Leader Vs Manager
Sunday, February 1, 2009
In my opinion leadership is a facet of management. It is a big asset that any manager can have. A manager is responsible for following functions staffing, directing, controlling, organizing and planning. Leadership is a part of directing.
Before harping on the question of what a true leader is lets try to see if a leader is always required?
The answer is plain and simple and it is no. It is not necessary to have a leader. Self motivated group don't require a single leader. Here all the members can share leadership. If that is the case then why cant we reciprocate this in other groups. The answer is that people tend to get demotivated and it is the duty of the leader to motivate them.
A manager does the thing right and a leader does the right thing.
This adage highlights the difference in outlook a manager and a leader has. A manager tries to follow the book. For him procedure is as important as the end result and sometime even more. A leader does not get bogged down by procedure. For him the end objective is the of utmost importance and if in the process he ends up screwing the procedure he does that. He may end up doing things that would benefit a company more.
Leaders are more emotional. They are passionate about the thing they do. Men are governed by emotions than by intelligence. It is for this reason people chose to follow leaders.
Leaders standout by being different. They question tradition and assumption. They seek out facts and take decisions based on facts. They don't have a prejudiced mind. Thus they encourage innovation.
Leaders make a point of highlighting even smallest of groups success and hence end up getting more loyalty.
Before harping on the question of what a true leader is lets try to see if a leader is always required?
The answer is plain and simple and it is no. It is not necessary to have a leader. Self motivated group don't require a single leader. Here all the members can share leadership. If that is the case then why cant we reciprocate this in other groups. The answer is that people tend to get demotivated and it is the duty of the leader to motivate them.
A manager does the thing right and a leader does the right thing.
This adage highlights the difference in outlook a manager and a leader has. A manager tries to follow the book. For him procedure is as important as the end result and sometime even more. A leader does not get bogged down by procedure. For him the end objective is the of utmost importance and if in the process he ends up screwing the procedure he does that. He may end up doing things that would benefit a company more.
Leaders are more emotional. They are passionate about the thing they do. Men are governed by emotions than by intelligence. It is for this reason people chose to follow leaders.
Leaders standout by being different. They question tradition and assumption. They seek out facts and take decisions based on facts. They don't have a prejudiced mind. Thus they encourage innovation.
Leaders make a point of highlighting even smallest of groups success and hence end up getting more loyalty.
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