Leader or manager?

Mary is the associate director of Zarana company. The company has been cautious in hiring since last year due to lack of funding and high staff turnover. In last two months alone, one director, two key research staff, and one member of staff from the finance department have left their jobs. ‘Thank you all for attending the meeting today, I would like to remind you all that we still have to meet this month targets and that it is imperative that we do. I feel that this is an achievable goal, there is no space in this team for quitters.’ Mary’s ‘glass half-empty’ conversation and ordering style has been made the staff dejected, frustrated and lose their confidence.

Also, Mary is sensing that staff are becoming overworked as everyone takes on increased responsibilities due to high staff turnover. After the meeting two employees met by the water cooler. ‘I’m not sure how much longer I can still do this, there are only so many times you can put in extra hours before something snaps…’ ‘I’m feeling like I’m taking on too much, moving from one task to another with no information about what I should be doing…’ Mary’s dominance on all the staff, their work and their processes have also made her tired and confused. ‘Do you think Mary can make this better?’