The manager administers; the leader innovates. The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective. The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why. The manager has his eye on the bottom line; the leader has his eye on the horizon. The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.
Warren G. Bennis
Leadership and management are two nearly same terms – it is a total wrong statement.
Key differences between leader and manager are: Leadership does not require any managerial placement to perform as a leader. On the other hand, a manager can be a pure manager only if he has got the functions of leader in himself. By the character of his position, manager to supply leadership to his team.
A manager has to execute all the functions to accomplish his goals that are planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling. Leadership is a share of these functions. Leadership as a common term is not connected to managership. An individual can be a leader by the character of qualities he carry out in himself.
A leader is an individual who impacts the behaviours and work of other members in the group efforts towards the achieving the specified goals in a provided scenario. On the other side manager can be a literal manager only if he has got traits of leadership within him. Manager at all the levels of an organisation are expected to act as the leader of the work troops. So that the subordinates by their willingness fetch instructions and accept their guidance provided.
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Key differences between leader and Manager
We have split up the differences into two parts that are main differences and additional differences:
1. A leader is someone who mentors and leads other team members. He gives an acceptable direction and reason, to their efforts by giving a shape to their behaviour. So that they can obtain the desired goals and objectives.
On the other side, a manager is someone who is in charge of the management of the organisation. He observes after the day to day activities. Simultaneously updates to the changes that are carrying in the market. He encourages the team members to work in a cooperative way. He arranges all the resources of the organisation, etc.
2. A leader outlines the behaviour of the employees. He narrates direction by the process of development and communication of the vision of the organisation, and inspiring them to achieve it. On the opposite side, a manager tends to lay down the foundation of the organisation. He deputes authority and responsibility to the employees.
3. While a leader carries out just one function of management that is providing with the direction to the team members. so that they can attain the goals of the organisation. A manager on the other hand performs all the functions of management.
Leader’s Tip:
Lead by example, showing integrity, empathy, and vision, earning trust and respect from the team.
4. When it comes to the rising of the authority. A leader occupies informal authority by the virtue of his personal qualities like knowledge, expertise and abilities. As in opposite of a manager has a receptive approach, and therefore he holds back for the correct time to act accordingly.
5. Discussing about the approaches, a leader has a dynamic approach. As he has the ability to predict the future events and decide upon taking preventive actions in prior. Whereas a manager has an approach based on reaction. Therefore waits for the correct situation to take measures.
6. A leader can be found in both of the set up formal and informal. In a business organisation and an informal troop that is a friend circle, etc. In contrary, a manager can be established in a formal set up only. Not taking into consideration of its size, type and nature.
7. To become a good leader, an individual should have leadership qualities, where as in order to become a manager one is required to have both leadership as well as qualities of a manager.
8. Disciples act according to the instructions of the leader because of their own willingness, but the employees act according with the instructions and orders received by the manager because of the authority a manager holds within them.
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Additional differences
- The main feature of a leader is foreseeing of the upcoming events, while that a manager is a fast decision maker considering various matters and coordinate various activities and tasks in an effective manner.
- A leader has followers who tend to follow him, where on the other side manager has his employees, in the way of subordinates who reports to the manager about the daily activities that are being carried out in the organisation.
- A manager considers a settlement style of leadership where rewards and punishments are approached for the motivation of the employees. As contrary a leader makes the usage of transformational style of leadership, in which the leader inspires his subordinates to bring conversion in their behaviour so that they can acquire achievement of the desired goals.
- A manager always tries to prevent conflicts, as he accepts that it is going to bound the activities and progress of the organisation as well. As in the other hand a leader makes use of the conflicts as a method to provoke the team members to do better than others.
- A leader focuses on motivating and giving inspiration to the people. On the opposite side the manager aims at the giving directions and having control of the employees.
We hereby conclude that a manager is always a leader but a leader cannot be always a manager, because well a manager also acts the part of a leader in an organisation by affecting and providing motivation to those who are working under him as subordinates, but a leader might not be a manager for the reason there are people who lead him in informal groupings.
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Leader’s Tip:
Foster open communication, encourage creativity, and empower team members to reach their full potential.
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FAQs
Who is better- a leader or a manager?
Both of them are important in their own ways, but leadership is a bit forward of management. A perfectly balanced organisation has leadership qualities in its foundation.
How does a manager work?
A manager always tries to prevent conflicts, as he accepts that it is going to bound the activities and progress of the organisation as well. As in the other hand a leader makes use of the conflicts as a method to provoke the team members to do better than others.
Key Takeaways
- Leadership involves inspiring others and providing a clear direction for achieving goals.
- Management focuses on coordinating resources and tasks efficiently to achieve specific objectives.
- Effective leaders combine management skills with a compelling vision, motivating their teams to excel.