Management vs Leadership qualities

Abstract:

The difference between managers to leaders

Leaders and managers are often used interchangeably, but there are significant differences between these two critical roles. While both leaders and managers play an essential role within an organization, their definitions of them are different.

Leadership is defined as driving positive change within the workplace, which involves developing a vision or ideas to guide that change. Effective leadership empowers individuals to turn their vision into reality, even with challenges.

Management is defined as a role to guide and direct individuals who may need to be more motivated or misdirected toward common goals and strategies. While leaders define the vision and strategy, managers plan and execute tasks to archive the goals.

It is important to note that a manager in an organizational chart may sit atop the hierarchy, while individuals can lead without holding a managerial position. Not all managers are influential leaders and may be appointed for the role based on their technical knowledge and expertise. Leaders at any position in the hierarchy have naturally gained followers willing to support them in reaching the vision. Overall, leaders and managers have some similarities, but the roles are distinct. Understanding the differences in three main areas: Focus, skillset, and vision, will give a more precise overview.

Focus

Leaders focus on discovering ways to support and inspire their employees, mobilizing them to execute a series of distinct and collective undertakings. They pursue vital company initiatives, present new ideas, and drive change to an avant-garde mindset. Leaders communicate in a high-level yet empathetic way and trigger positive, slow changes by empowering workers to work towards common goals. Their job is to sustain the firm culture's core business values and mindset through their actions, genuine interaction, and choices, influencing how workers take and abide by that culture.

On the other hand, managers direct, maintain, and center their efforts on the process and structure of carrying out tasks, pursuing the firm's goals through synchronized actions. Their main work is to safeguard that workers in different roles with different accountabilities work productively while feeling that they can realize the objective. They continuously monitor the outcome by controlling workers and providing needed information, techniques, and tools to succeed correctly. However, some managers may need help understanding the reason for the change and may not even be aware of the change happening in worse scenarios.

Leaders and managers should work together to sustain the firm culture's core business values and mindset and achieve the company's goals. Two-way communication should be established among workers, managers, and leaders, and managers should adequately understand the reason for the change to reinforce change communication messages. With efficient interaction and continuous feedback, leaders can inspire and energize their workforce, catch their fans' attention, and motivate them to follow necessary organizational plans, impacting employee engagement positively. Meanwhile, managers control workers, provide needed information, techniques, and tools to properly succeed, and direct their employees towards adjusting to the company culture shaped by the leader.

Vision

Leaders typically clearly understand where they want their organizations to be in the next five or ten years. They recognize that they are only partially responsible for realizing their vision. Therefore, they communicate openly about the company's goals, prospects, and challenges to build trust and foster a supportive work environment. Doing so encourages employees to share their ideas, needs, and concerns, leading to a more engaged workforce. However, a leader's vision is only meaningful if they can communicate it to their employees. Therefore, leaders must inspire and motivate their staff to work toward the company's vision. The purpose is a critical driver of staff loyalty and engagement, so leaders must ensure that employees' work and personal values are aligned with the company's objectives.

In contrast, managers are responsible for executing plans to meet the company's goals. For example, the Finance Manager handles budgeting, while the Administrative Manager oversees staffing and corporate structuring. The department managers must work together to achieve the company's objectives. Overall, leaders focus on communicating the vision, mission, and plans to the entire workforce, while managers keep employees aligned with the company's central goals and values.

References

McQueen, Z. (2021) Leadership vs. Management: How to motivate and develop our team’s capabilities through effective communication, coaching, and training. Independently Published.

TURNER, J.R.O.D.N.E.Y. and MÜLLER, R.A.L.F. (2005) THE PROJECT MANAGER’S LEADERSHIP STYLE AS A SUCCESS FACTOR ON PROJECTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW. Project Management Journal. Available at: https://www.ordineingegnerimodena.it/Media/Default/Commissioni/Industria%20Dipendenti/turner_muller.pdf (Accessed: February 12, 2023).