What are the comprehensive differences between managerial and non-managerial?

Posted by Robert Norton on

Almost too broad a question to be worth answering, and you could write many books on the topic. But in short, managers are expected to:

Think, analyze, plan, hire, fire, improve productivity, budget, motivate and be accountable for results (not activities).

Individual contributors do little, if any, of these things. Of course, some professionals are required to do some of these things too as their main job. i.e. Accountants budget and plan money. Architects design and plan projects and budgets.

Typically, there are four levels of ability and skills in an organization, and almost all professions:

  1. Individual contributor - does the technical work
  2. Manager - Manages those ICs. Typically, the “Span of control” is 7 to one ratio. Though this can vary by industry and company structure.
  3. Executive - Manages the managers. Generally requires 15+ years experience and deep domain experience in one area of sales, marketing, finance, operations, product development or other key skill for that company.
  4. CEO, SVP, COO, CXO - Manages executives, strategy, finance, marketing, sales, operations and many other things at a strategic, and leveraged, level. Working on the 3–5 year plans and putting the “right people on the bus”.

In smaller companies, there may be less than 4 levels of bureaucracy, but the senior people are taking up the slack and working two levels or more generally.

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Bob Norton is a long-time Serial Entrepreneur and CEO with four exits that returned over $1 billion to investors. He has trained, coached and advised over 1,000 CEOs since 2002. And is Founder of The CEO Boot Camp™ and Entrepreneurship University™. Mr. Norton works with companies to triple their chances of success in launching new companies and products. And helps established companies scale faster using the six AirTight Management™ systems. And helps companies successfully raise capital.

Call (619) SCALE06 or email info@AirTightMgt.com for a complementary strategic consultation.


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