One of the most subjective and contentious topic I deem that exist is difference between a Leader and Manager or more specifically who is superior. I have been brainstorming on this for almost an year and half now. It started when favorite director of my previous organization asked me once what I wanted to be a Leader or a Manager. I jumped with joy and said Leader because that Leader seems to a charismatic character who can lead to perform everything that exists bigger and better than just managing it. On contrary most of the organizations offer Project Lead first and then you can be promoted to Project Manager which makes Manager bigger than Leader.Leader and Manager are not the title but they are approach with which an individual behaves in his day to day activities.
Definition:
Let’s interrogate if meaning of both the words can give us good idea:
Manager: One who handles, controls, or directs
Leader: One that leads or guides. The one who goes first.
It’s pretty evident that the Manager is one who is responsible for delivering and meeting predefined goal whereas Leader focus on vision/ideas and bringing innovation in the process of achieving goals (above and beyond the defined limit for success measures).
Let’s interrogate if meaning of both the words can give us good idea:
Manager: One who handles, controls, or directs
Leader: One that leads or guides. The one who goes first.
It’s pretty evident that the Manager is one who is responsible for delivering and meeting predefined goal whereas Leader focus on vision/ideas and bringing innovation in the process of achieving goals (above and beyond the defined limit for success measures).
Leader vs. Manager:
One of the unsurpassed comparisons I like most is by Warren Bennis and Dan Goldsmith. They have defined twelve differences which I believe is the crux of the topic:
The Manager administers; the Leader innovates.The Manager is a copy; the Leader is an original.The Manager maintains; the Leader develops.The Manager accepts reality; the Leader investigates it.The Manager focuses on systems and structure; the Leader focuses on people.The Manager relies on control; the Leader inspires trust.The Manager has a short-range view; the Leader has a long-range perspective.The Manager asks how and when; the Leader asks what and why.The Manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the Leader has his or her eye on the horizon.The Manager imitates; the Leader originates.The Manager accepts the status quo; the Leader challenges it.The Manager is the classic good soldier; the Leader is his or her own person.The Manager does things right; the Leader does the right thing.
We can draw out a clear distinction from here that Manager’s focus is effectiveness, to get the maximum benefits out of the available resources benefiting the organization whereas Leader is innovative and together with achieving goals he thrives to look for efficiency, improvement, innovation, inspires energy in people.
The Manager administers; the Leader innovates.The Manager is a copy; the Leader is an original.The Manager maintains; the Leader develops.The Manager accepts reality; the Leader investigates it.The Manager focuses on systems and structure; the Leader focuses on people.The Manager relies on control; the Leader inspires trust.The Manager has a short-range view; the Leader has a long-range perspective.The Manager asks how and when; the Leader asks what and why.The Manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the Leader has his or her eye on the horizon.The Manager imitates; the Leader originates.The Manager accepts the status quo; the Leader challenges it.The Manager is the classic good soldier; the Leader is his or her own person.The Manager does things right; the Leader does the right thing.
We can draw out a clear distinction from here that Manager’s focus is effectiveness, to get the maximum benefits out of the available resources benefiting the organization whereas Leader is innovative and together with achieving goals he thrives to look for efficiency, improvement, innovation, inspires energy in people.
In A Nutshell:
Both Leader and Manager have altogether different attitudes. Manager focus on completing the chore assigned and efforts are made on HOW to complete the activities whereas Leader will evaluate WHY the work is been performed and HOW to put inspiration, innovation and creativity that will help to achieve better results. Manager will focus on getting best out of the resources assigned whereas Leader will also look into overall maturity and advancement of associates. Managers tend to follow best practices used in the industry whereas Leaders are the ones who create those best practices. Manager’s most of the time goes into firefighting and problem solving whereas Leaders invest their time in proactively identifying issues and risks and their probable remediation.
Bol Bachan:
Maximizing benefits for organization and showing your worth is sheer professionalism and we all are striving hard to succeed in it but bringing personal touch to it move one from Manager to Leader. I believe the upcoming demand will for Leaders who can manage rather than the Managers who can lead for the reason that Leadership is an attitude which makes is hard to learn whereas Management is an art which can be taught and built…
Maximizing benefits for organization and showing your worth is sheer professionalism and we all are striving hard to succeed in it but bringing personal touch to it move one from Manager to Leader. I believe the upcoming demand will for Leaders who can manage rather than the Managers who can lead for the reason that Leadership is an attitude which makes is hard to learn whereas Management is an art which can be taught and built…
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