Leadership vs Management
As mentioned in the previous lesson, the terms “leadership” and “management” are sometimes used interchangeably. However, they are markedly different when they come to their principles and functions.
Leadership is based on one’s ability to influence others while management is based on the ability to control. Additionally, leadership is said to be essential to an organization while management is required. Nevertheless, leadership is necessary for successfully managing an organization. Hence, all organizations must both have strong leadership and strong leadership to properly function.
The following are the key differences between the two, along with their core similarities:
Main Differences
People-focused vs Object-focused Leaders go direct to their people. This is why they can influence their members and followers. Managers, on the other hand, concentrate on what they consider the important things within the organization such as numbers and public image.
Creates vision vs Executes vision Leaders design the future of their organizations. They are like architects who develop what their organization will be. Managers are the ones who construct this design.
Proactive vs Reactive Before a problem comes, leaders can already see them and can already make a plan for when the time comes that the plan becomes necessary. Managers act only when issues arise. This is the same with opportunities. Leaders see opportunities and act on them immediately. Managers grab opportunities as they come.
Trusts and develops vs Controls and directs Literally, leaders trusts their members to do right by the organization while developing their skills and abilities. Managers make their members do according to their plans.
Creates change vs Manages change Leaders are transformational heads of organizations. That means they seek out chances to evolve and advance their organizations. Managers, on the other hand, are in change of dealing with these changes.
Authority comes from the people vs Authority comes from position Since leadership is based on the ability to influence, their people follow them because they want to. On the other hand, people follow managers because they have to. Not following your manager can result in negative repercussions to your livelihood, so you follow accordingly.
Core Similarities
Improves the group Both leaders and management work in such a way that their members work towards the common goal. As a result, the group progresses accordingly.
Unlocks full potential Towards the attainment of the organization’s goals, members inevitably grow and advance. This is because it is the job of the heads of the organization to ensure that the members improve and gain new skills so that they can contribute well to the organization.