Are There Difference between a Leader and a Manager - Coursework Example

ARE THERE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LEADER AND A MANAGER? Contents Introduction 2. Managers Vs. Leaders 3. Conclusion 4. References ARE THERE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LEADER AND A MANAGER? Introduction Leadership and management are two notions that are several times used interchangeably. But in reality these words truly describe two different concepts. According to Bernard Bass "Leaders manage and managers lead, but the two activities are not synonymous…. Management functions can potentially provide leadership; leadership activities can contribute to managing. Nevertheless, some managers do not lead, and some leaders do not manage" (Bass and Stogdill, 1990). Although managers and leaders functions and roles overlap considerably, the term manager connotes that authority has been formally granted to an individual by an organization. This paper is intended to answer the question that is asked by many if there is any difference between a leader and a manager? Managers Vs. Leaders There are several differences between a manager and a leader. A leader in general is more emotional when compared to a manager. “Men are governed by their emotions rather than their intelligence” (Fenton, 1990)[3]. For a healthy organization it is essential to have both good leaders as well as good managers. According to Warren Bennis "There is a profound difference between management and leadership, and both are important. To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of or responsibility for, and to conduct. Leading is influencing, guiding in a direction, course, action, opinion. The distinction is crucial". One of Bennis’ most quoted phrases is, "Managers are people who do things right and leaders are people who do the right thing" (Bennis and Goldsmith, 1997). Leadership cannot be granted to a person by a higher authority; rather, those who decide to follow bestow it on an individual. While managers have formal authority, leaders have the informal ability to get things done by attracting and influencing or inspiring followers. Effective managers in any organizations must also be leaders, and many leaders become managers, leaders, and directors in an organization (Steven, 2001). A manager is a person who is in charge for managing someone and also the one who controls resources and expenditures. They are focused on achieving company objectives through the actions and efforts of their subordinates. On the other hand a leader is a person who makes decisions that many people choose to follow or obey (AME Info FZ LLC, 1996). However, in general managers and leaders are expected to have exceptionally good leadership qualities and good people-motivation skills and inspirational techniques that will help to improve total productivity. Psychological research has discovered the following positive personality variables associated with strong leadership includes warmth, friendliness, self-confidence, and ability to stand up to pressure. These researches have also found that the absence of the negative qualities of arrogance, hostility, boastfulness, egotism, and passivity are correlated with positive leadership (Romney, 1996). A leader trusts in his team and motivates them for high performance. A good leader is always generous in praising and recognizing each individual who is a performer and appreciate all contributions, big and small. A leader must project fearlessness in facing challenges. A leader must stand firm even in the presence of criticisms, but still having the courage to admit his mistakes (Smith, 2005). A more standard definition of a manager is “managers’ work toward the organization’s goals using its resources in an effective and efficient manner.” (McNamara, 1999). In general, it can be said that managers administer where as leaders innovate. While the common questions among the managers relate to how and when while with the leaders is what and why. Managers’ focus on systems and how to make it work where as leaders are mainly focused on people (White, 2005). However, it is a well known fact that effective managing is all about leadership. An effective leader must be a good manager and a good manager effectively must be a good leader (Johnson, 2007). A leader may not necessarily be a manager but a good manager needs to be a good leader. Each and every aspect in an organization is viewed differently by a manager and a leader. For instance, managers and leaders have very different attitudes toward goals. A manager adopts impersonal, almost passive, attitudes toward goals; decide upon goals based on necessity instead of desire. Hence they are deeply tied to their organizations culture; tend to be reactive since they focus on current information. A leader tends to be active since they envision and promote their ideas rather than reacting to situations. They shape ideas instead of responding to them and they have a personal orientation toward goals. Leaders provide a vision to their followers that alter the way in which they think about what is desirable, possible, and necessary. Managers and leaders have different outlook towards work. Managers establish strategies and make decisions by combining people and ideas where as a leader develop innovative approaches to solve any problem. Managers prefer to work with others as a team, as they are basically dependent on team performance, where as leaders believe in their own efforts and motivating others to work with them. While managers maintain a low level of emotional involvement in relationships, leaders have more emotional relationship. They are empathetic towards people (Parsetti, 2008). Leadership is influence. Leadership is important because it influences the destiny of people. Leadership also determines, to a large extent, what a group of people will be able to achieve. Leadership moves people towards common goals, principles and values. Good leadership enables people to work together well, and realize their potential. Good leadership results in strong people and excellent results (Christian-faith.com, N.D). Conclusion Managing demands a new type of leadership in today’s multifaceted workplace. Hence, it is essential that managers must lead as visionaries and entrepreneurs, mentors and role model for change, team builders and servant-followers. To succeed, they must be aggressive, improve their service, nurture a diverse workplace and meet unprecedented global, ethical, and business challenges. Managerial success depends on developing and using the leadership skills that move organizations and people forward toward common goals and objectives. Finally, it can be concluded that there is a difference between managers and leaders in an organization as they have specific roles to play. While managers motivate by providing guidelines, encouragement and appreciation, leaders walk the talk and work along with the employees to spread their motivation to others. Therefore, both managers and leaders are very important for an organization and both have unique characteristics. References AME Info FZ LLC, (1996) Good manager or great leader? [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 10 January 2008]. Bass, B.M. & Stogdill, R.M. (1990). Bass and Stogdill’s handbook of leadership: Theory, research, and managerial applications. New York, NY: The Free Press. pp. 383. Bennis, W. and Goldsmith, J. (1997) Learning to Lead: A Workbook on Becoming a Leader, Perseus Books, Addison Wesley, pp. 9. Christian-faith.com, (N.D), Principles of Leadership, [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 9 January 2008]. Fenton, J. (1990) 101 Ways to Boost Your Business Performance, Mandarin Business, pp 113. Johnson, R. (2007) The Difference Between a Leader and a Manager, 6th November 2007, [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 11 January 2008]. McNamara, C. (1999) Basics – Definitions (and Misconceptions) About Management. [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 10 January 2008]. Parsetti, J. (2008) Business Style Differences: Manager vs. Leader, [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 9 January 2008]. Romney, P. (1996), Being a Leader, [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 9 January 2008]. Smith, D, (2005), How to Lead People, [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 8 January 2008]. Steven, J.O. (2001) Understanding Nonprofit Organizations: Governance, Leadership, and Management. Westview Press, Boulder, CO. pp 93-95. White, S.J. (2005) Are you a manager or a leader? Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 62 Jun 1, 2005. pp. 1206. Read More