Management versus Leadership
Before we can understand the difference between management and leadership and what makes them different, we must first understand what each is. Merriam-Webster defines management as the act or skill of controlling and making decisions about a business, department, sports team, etc. In comparison, leadership is defined as the power or ability to lead other people. While these two forms of guidance can seem similar to one another, they are considerably different. Most notable are the common attributes of each administrative style.
Managers are typically more controlling and focused on things such as organization and strategic thinking. While managers are problem solvers, they are also more concerned about moving forward and less about change or originality. Managers do not, however, lack the communication, motivation, or delegation skills of a leader. (These traits are shared between the two styles of supervision.) Instead, a manager typically has a very organized way of doing business and keeps to structure while completing daily operations. According to Forbes Magazine, “Managers focus on setting, measuring and achieving goals.” (Arruda, 2021). According to Marian-Aurelian Bargau, “Paul Birch noticed that in large organizations managers devote more attention to the tasks they have to accomplish while leaders are more concerned about people.” (Bargau, 2015).
With leadership, one is required to inspire and motivate those they are leading. Leaders are typically positive individuals who are seen as trustworthy and persuasive. One article from the British Journal of Cardiac Nursing states that “Leadership is more about how people behave and how people engage with others” (Ellis & Abbott, 2013). Leaders often are focused on a goal and achieving that goal. Whereas a manager is more concerned with following the particular policies and procedures towards completing a specific task, leaders encourage creativity and are more flexible than their counterparts in managerial roles. A good leader will perform similarly to a good sports coach, focusing on hiring a diverse group of individuals with unique skills and encouraging them to perform as a team in their specialized positions.
In his TedTalk, best-selling author Hamza Khan says that “If you want your team to do their best work, you have to bring out the best in yourself…” (Stop Managing, Start Leading | Hamza Khan | TEDxRyersonU, 2016). I believe that Hamza’s explanation of how he stands in front of his team and leads them is the most remarkable example that sets a manager aside from a leader. This is not, however, to say that one style is better over the other. But instead, to be a good supervisor or administrator, one would be wise to master the skills of both and bring them together in an amalgamated pairing that ensures the peak performance of those you oversee.
References
Arruda, W. (2021, October 11). 9 Differences Between Being A Leader And A Manager. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2016/11/15/9-differences-between-being-a-leader-and-a-manager/?sh=400a9ed84609 Bargau, M. A. (2015). Leadership versus management. Romanian Economic and Business Review, Summer 2015, 10(2), 181–188. Ellis, P., & Abbott, J. (2013). Leadership and management skills in health care. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 8(2), 96–99. Stop Managing, Start Leading | Hamza Khan | TEDxRyersonU. (2016, August 24). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_HHnEROy_w
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