Managers and Leaders: Are they different or similar?

The difference between being a manager and being a leader is simple. A leader may have no organisational skills, but his vision unites people behind him. Leadership and management are two notions that are often used interchangeably. However, these words actually describe two different concepts, but not for the reasons, most people think. Rather, leadership and management are two distinctive and complementary systems of action. Both have their own functions and characteristic activities as well as they are very helpful for success in an increasingly complex and volatile business environment (Kotter, 1990).

Managers and Leaders: Are they different?

Management is the process of setting and achieving organizational goals through its functions of forecasting, organization, coordination, training and monitoring and evaluation. Leadership is the ability to influence to make others follow you, the ability to guide, the human side of business for "teacher". Other considerations emphasize aspects that separate management of leadership, calling them two completely different processes. 

The words manager and leader are very often used to designate the same person who leads, however, they represent different realities and the main difference arises form the way in which people around are motivated. Management is a career. Leadership is a calling. A leader is someone who people naturally follow through their own choice, where as a manager must be obeyed. A manager may only have obtained his position of authority through time and loyalty given to the company, not as a result of his leadership qualities. Leadership is the main component of change, providing vision, and dedication necessary for its realization. Leadership is a skill that is formed by education, experiences, interaction with people and inspiring, of course, practice. Effective leadership depends largely on how their leaders define, follow and share the vision to followers. Leadership is just one important component of the directing function. A manager cannot just be a leader, he also needs formal authority to be effective.

Managers are the people to whom this management task is assigned, and it is generally thought that they achieve the desired goals through the key functions of planning and budgeting, organizing and staffing, problem solving and controlling. Leaders on the other hand set a direction, align people, motivate and inspire (Kotter, 2001). 

A leader is flexible, innovative, inspiring, courageous and independent and at the same time a manager is consulting, analytical, deliberate, authoritative and stabilizing (Capowski, 1994). 

Manager versus Leader

Based on the above it is obvious that there is an underlying strong request for leadership, even in the areas where the request is either verbally or actually of a managerial nature. Managers of all levels play an important role to success of organizations’ journey too.