Differences between Leadership and Management - Essay Example

Unlike management that has been known to learn, leadership on the other hand cannot be taught since it flows in personality although it can be enhanced.
There are various differences between leadership and management; however, their biggest difference is how they get their followers to do what they want. This makes all the difference in various aspects of how they do things. Managers’ power is given to them by the organizations they are employed in and they have assistants who work for them. Management uses a transactional method to have tasks done. This means that the subordinates do what they are told because they expect something in return, this is normally salary. Managers act out of motivation that they will get paid after delivering. Therefore they put focus on their subordinate to reach the organizations’ expectations.

On the other hand, leaders do not have subordinates, unless informal settings where they also hold management roles. In normal circumstances, leaders have followers who are inspired by their actions (Daft, & Lane, 2005, P. 5). Leadership requires that a person appeals to other people so much that they are ready to stop doing what they are doing to follow them. It means they are ready to take risks they would not have considered to take was it not for the influence of a particular person (Bertocci, 2009, P. 6).

Leaders get things done through their strong charisma and they do not promise their followers material reward; they persuade them by promising them positive transformation. Therefore, leadership is about making a positive effect on people’s lives and leaders are able to convince people that they will become better people after following their leadership. Leadership focuses a lot of their attention on the people they work with. Leaders are charismatic but they do not necessarily have a loud personality they use a quiet, genuine style of addressing people. They are also ready to take the blame for other people’s mistakes and always give credit to others.

Leadership has many positive effects on society, but it also has limitations to the person with the position of leadership. One of the various advantages of leadership is the positive effect it instills in an organization and society. Many people are influenced by good leadership and have the will to change their way of life. Leadership also makes the person with the leadership position be considered as a responsible person by others.

One major limitation of leadership is that the leader becomes a mirror of perfection and people do not expect him or her to make any mistakes. This is hard since people normally make mistakes without intending to. The other main limitation is the fact that people with leadership positions have to take responsibility for other peoples’ mistakes. This is not always fair to leaders and it can lead to stress.
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