In “Let’s Not Confuse Showmanship with Leadership,” small business expert Barry Moltz made a clear distinction between “showmen” and “leaders.”
The entrepreneur community is filled with showmen. They are inspirational and charismatic. You hang on their every word. They make you want to follow them into the bright future they just described.
Regarding showmen, Moltz writes:
Showmen have charisma and prioritize immediate impact on what they say and do in front of an audience. They create memorable experiences through pictures or slogans and that leave a strong impression. They may not even believe in what they are saying; they say what the audience wants to hear. It’s just a means to an end to get engagement and followers.
The question I want to ask you is, would you want to work for a showman?
My answer would be no, but that comes from years of experience, and your answer may vary.
Moltz contrasts showmen with leaders this way:
Leaders focus on the development and growth of their team. They prioritize long-term goals and strategic thinking. When they communicate, it’s about integrity, strategic planning, and long term decision-making.
Leaders mentor their employees, set clear goals, and foster a collaborative work environment. They do not put themselves first.
Well, that sounds much better to me. Most of my clients tell me they want to work in a collaborative environment where their manager sets clear goals and acts with integrity.
That said, it can be fantastic to have a showman on your executive team. They could be the face of the business. They could help close the big sales. They could pitch investors. They could present to the board. They could talk to the press and speak at conferences. That is a great use of their skills and could help a business grow revenue exponentially.
What you wouldn’t want them to do is directly manage people.
Yes, they would be part of the executive team and inform strategy, but a professional manager and leader should oversee the staff.
I think that is where many companies fail, especially as a startup grows to a certain point and the visionary founder, often a showman, needs to be pulled out of the day-to-day operations and an experienced management team needs to be brought in to run the business.
If you think about it, you’ll be able to recall stories of showmen founders who created organizations that made employees jump through hoops, and when they could not, fed them to the lions.
Give a showman an audience and give a leader the job of managing staff. Everyone will be much happier and your business will be more profitable.
Photo by Becky Phan on Unsplash
