Leadership vs Management

There is a philosophical difference between leadership and management. Leadership is about influencing, guiding in a direction, action and view. Managing is to accomplish, to be in-charge of or to be responsible for. A good manager does things right whereas a leader does the right things. Doing the right things implies a goal, a direction, an objective, a vision, a dream.

Leadership and management are both important, but they seek to do different things. A leader is one who influences the behavior and work of others in group(s) towards attainment of specific goals in a given circumstance. While managers are expected to be the leaders of work groups so that the subordinates willingly carry directions and accept their supervision.

A person can become a leader by virtue of his personal qualities. The group or employees who the leader leads are his followers. As a leader one influences people to work willingly for the group objectives. People follow leaders voluntarily.

A person becomes a manager by virtue of his position. Manager has formal rights in an organization because of his position. The subordinates are the followers of managers. The manager has clear accountability for self and subordinates behavior and performance.

The manager administers while the leader innovates. The manager relies on control whereas the leader inspires trust. The manager has a short term view whereas the leader has a long term perspective. The manager imitates while the leader originate.

In summary leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group and leader is the spearhead for that new direction. Management controls or directs people in a group according to principles or values that have already been established. The goal of the manager is to execute the directions promoted by the leader. Management is only a role not a type of action. You can lead regardless of your position provided you promote new directions that are compelling to others.

2 comments:

Leadership 360 Assessment said...

Leadership and management are indeed two different words that are mostly referred to as one. It's great that you are able to distinguish the two in this article.

Alex ken said...

If the leadership team is smartly dressed and punctual in the mornings, then this will encourage your staff to replicate this behavior.

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