Managers shift blame, whereas leaders accept responsibility.

Many people work for managers. They get all the glory, and roll the rest down hill when things don’t go according to plan. They fail to empower their team, though they expect them to accept responsibility for decisions they didn’t make. They rarely if ever communicate true expectations, and horde information. They set their team up for failure.

Leaders empower their team, coach them to better decision making, and share responsibility when things go wrong. They value transparency, and share as much information as possible, with everyone involved. They are in the trenches every day, working side by side with those producing the work. And they too are high producers, carefully balancing the desires of a diverse set of stakeholders. They inspire with their example, and help their team achieve greatness.

My hope is that you choose to be a leader.

Being a leader isn’t easy. For many it requires stepping far outside the comfort zone and understanding that having all the answers isn’t necessary.

What is necessary is to ensure that your team is empowered and provided every chance to succeed. And when they don’t, you’re there right beside them taking the heat too.