Differences Between Management and Leadership

For an organization or program to succeed it needs both good managers and good leaders. A good manager may also be a great leader, and a leader may also be a good manager, but the two do not necessarily always go hand-in-hand. In many organizations, managers may focus on ensuring that within the organization their employees or projects have structure, schedule, resources, and knowledge of policies/procedures to accomplish specific goals. A leader may focus on the larger picture or vision for a project or organization, ensuring motivation and inspiring team members.

In a very simplified way, a good manager is someone who does things right and a leader is someone who does the right thing.

People may define the differences between managers and leaders in varied ways and might argue that these two roles don’t overlap at all or overlap a lot, that individuals who do these jobs have different types of personalities, or that a manager accomplishes activities while leaders influence others and have a vision. However you think about the distinction between managers and leaders, an organization needs both to succeed.

Functions of Management and Leadership

Management: Order and Consistency	Leadership: Change and Movement
Planning/Budgeting Establish agenda Set schedule Allocate resources	Establishing Direction Create vision Clarify the big picture Set strategies
Organization/Staffing Provide structure Make job placements Establish rules and procedures	Aligning People Communicate goals See commitment Build teams and coalitions
Controlling/Problem Solving Develop incentives Generate creative solutions Take corrective action	Motivating and Inspiring Inspire and energize Empower subordinates Satisfy unmet needs

 

Adapted from: Kotter, John R. (1990). A Force for Change: How Leadership Differs from Management. New York: Free Press. In Northouse, Peter G. (2004). Leadership Theory and Practice. California: Sage Publications.

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