Which would you rather be?

An ongoing debate in academic circles over the past 50-odd years relates to the correlation between leadership and management. Does a manager have to be a great leader? Does a leader need to have good management skills? What is the difference between leadership and management?


Definition: Leadership means "the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members."
Management comprises directing and controlling a group of one or more people or entities for the purpose of coordinating and harmonizing that group towards accomplishing a goal.

Personality Styles: Leaders are often called brilliant and mercurial, with great charisma. Yet, they are also often seen as loners and private people. They are comfortable taking risks, sometimes seemingly wild and crazy risks. Almost all leaders have high levels of imagination. Managers tend to be rational, under control problem solvers. They often focus on goals, structures, personnel, and availability of resources. Managers’ personalities lean toward persistence, strong will, analysis, and intelligence.

Focus: Leading people Managing work

Orientation: People-oriented
Manager- Task-oriented

Outcomes: Achievements
Manager- Results

Approach to tasks: Simply look at problems and devise new, creative solutions. Using their charisma and commitment, they excite, motivate, and focus others to solve problems and excel.
Managers Create strategies, policies, and methods to create teams and ideas that combine to operate smoothly. They empower people by soliciting their views, values, and principles. They believe that this combination reduces inherent risk and generates success.

Approach to risk: Risk-taking
Manager- Risk-averse

Role in decision-making: Facilitative
Manager- Involved

Styles: Transformational, Consultative & Participative
Manager- Dictatorial, Authoritative,Transactional, Autocratic, Consultative and Democratic.

Power through: Charisma & Influence
Manager- Formal authority & Position

Organization: Leaders have followers Managers have subordinates

Appeal to: Heart
Manager- Head

I would rather be a good leader than be a good manager.