Moving from Manager to Leader

Are you a manager but want to move into a leadership role? What is the difference and what are the skill sets needed to really be a leader? In my experience a few of the major components of moving from manager to leader entail:

• Setting a vision - being able to be visionary and set a guide post for where you want your organization, team or division to move is one of the key components of being a leader. Leaders often envision something that is new or different or out of the box. They are able to be creative and innovative to inspire a new way of being.
• Engaging and motivating others - in order to be able to truly move towards that vision leaders have to engage and motivate others to come along with the it. They have to encourage others through delegation of more opportunities, inspiring them to want to grow towards a vision by rewarding and recognizing them, and engaging them in a way that makes them feel like they are contributing to something bigger.
• Leading change - inspiring a new vision can create resistance in the organization. By learning and guiding the organization through the change leaders can truly develop lasting results in their organization and with their people by shifting habits and behaviors.

Do you have these skills to be a leader? If not, which one can you begin to practice today to move you to the next level?