When times get tough, employees look to managers not for management but leadership. Here are five little things to watch for to see if your company is being led or managed.

1. Think General Patton. I think all of us want a leader who inspires us to take confident action, not in some namby-pampy, kumbaya way, but in a way born of action, insight and preparedness. I want someone who makes his own holes in the wall if the doors are shut and locked.

2. Under pressure, watch for lies and dishonesty. People lose character elements when they get under pressure, the laws of the jungle make their ugly appearance. True leaders are exceptionally honest about what your company needs and what you need to do.

3. Seldom can you save your way to prosperity. Now is a time to sell more and find new customers. Figure it out. Watch expenses, sure, but market share gains await the aggressive leader. Are meetings all about cutbacks or attacking new product development speed to market issues.

4. Behind closed doors, or out with people. Some situations require consensus building, meeting after meeting to discuss sensitive matters. The doors always open later. People want to know what’s up, as much as they can. Tell the bad news truthfully, honestly, credibly and quickly….as soon as you know it. Did you ever see the footage of General Eisenhower walking around visiting with the troops on the day before D-Day, June 5, 1944? A lot of them DIED later that day…Ike knew it was going to happen and so did they. Ike looked them in the eye and let them know he knew what he was asking of them.

5. Look for new things. Leaders know that new markets and new products are exactly what his people want and need. Offense or defense?

Update:  Seth Godin’s blog post, on topic, luckily he agrees.