Exploring the Differences and Similarities Between a Manager and a Leader
2. Differences between leadership and management
2.1 Managers maintain things and leaders change things
Studies on the subjects of leadership and management have the underlying difference between a leader and a manager as “managers maintain things and leaders change things.” Gill (2006:26) explains their difference as “Managers plan, allocate resources, administer and control whereas leaders innovate, communicate and motivate”
Weathersby (Management Review Vol 88:3) summarises the contrast between leadership and management as:
Management is the allocation of scarce resources against an organization 's objective, the setting of priorities, the design of work and the achievement of results. Most important, it 's about controlling. Leadership, on the other hand, focuses on the creation of a common vision. It means motivating people to contribute to the vision and encouraging them to align their self-interest with that of the organization. It means persuading, not commanding
From these distinctions, management is therefore associated with tasks, targets, policies, adherence to procedures and administration whereas leadership is associated with vision, inspiration and change. Management displays a form of mould that individuals confine themselves to, to achieve the laid out goals of an organisation. To a certain extent it creates a monotonous environment which results in lethargy killing innovation. Leadership on the other hand demonstrates diversity and continuous change which motivates people to change their behaviour in a quest to achieve a desired goal. It does not give a laid out formula on how the goal is to be achieved but leaves room for ingenuity to accomplishing the goals.
2.6 Leaders are visionaries, managers administer someone’s vision.
The key difference between leadership and management is vision as noted by Deetz et al (2000:49). The leader clearly sees in his mind the way they want things to be and they articulate this mental picture to
2.1 Managers maintain things and leaders change things
Studies on the subjects of leadership and management have the underlying difference between a leader and a manager as “managers maintain things and leaders change things.” Gill (2006:26) explains their difference as “Managers plan, allocate resources, administer and control whereas leaders innovate, communicate and motivate”
Weathersby (Management Review Vol 88:3) summarises the contrast between leadership and management as:
Management is the allocation of scarce resources against an organization 's objective, the setting of priorities, the design of work and the achievement of results. Most important, it 's about controlling. Leadership, on the other hand, focuses on the creation of a common vision. It means motivating people to contribute to the vision and encouraging them to align their self-interest with that of the organization. It means persuading, not commanding
From these distinctions, management is therefore associated with tasks, targets, policies, adherence to procedures and administration whereas leadership is associated with vision, inspiration and change. Management displays a form of mould that individuals confine themselves to, to achieve the laid out goals of an organisation. To a certain extent it creates a monotonous environment which results in lethargy killing innovation. Leadership on the other hand demonstrates diversity and continuous change which motivates people to change their behaviour in a quest to achieve a desired goal. It does not give a laid out formula on how the goal is to be achieved but leaves room for ingenuity to accomplishing the goals.
2.6 Leaders are visionaries, managers administer someone’s vision.
The key difference between leadership and management is vision as noted by Deetz et al (2000:49). The leader clearly sees in his mind the way they want things to be and they articulate this mental picture to
Bibliography: Gill, R. 2006. Theory and practise of leadership. London: Sage. Gillen,T. 2002. Leadership skills for boosting performance. Wiltshire: Cromwell Press. Maxwell, J.C. 1993. Developing the leader within you. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.