Difference between Leader and Manager
Leadership and management are often confused terms. What is the difference between a leader and a manager?
The main difference between a leader and a manager lies in their approaches and focuses. A leader inspires, motivates, and guides a team or organization towards a shared vision or goal, while a manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and coordinating the day-to-day operations of a team or department.
John Kotter of the Harvard Business School says management is concerned with complexity. Good management enforces order and consistency by planning formally, designing rigid organizational structures, and comparing results to plans. Leadership, in contrast, refers to managing change. Leaders set the course with a vision of the future. Then, to engage employees, they communicate this vision and inspire them to overcome obstacles.
The blog covers the definition of leaders and managers and will help you understand the difference between leader and manager.
What is a Leader?
A leader is a visionary with skills to convey and promote their vision effectively. Leaders stand out from the group, exercising influence and encouragement to achieve a common goal, having skills such as systematising ideas, successful decision-making, etc.
They encourage, teach, listen, and facilitate the execution of tasks from all the people under his command and make his people champions. He is responsible for promoting how to ask for high performance from his followers. They guide and inspire the team members to perform their tasks more effectively.
Leaders don’t think of themselves but look at the big picture and plan an extended plan. Their primary focus is always on a topic that favours humanity. Leaders always strive to innovate; they have novel ideas and ways to change established norms and things. They do not like to follow the established path but make their way.
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What is a Manager?
Managers are in charge of the operational part of coordinating teams and resources to achieve business objectives. The company hires them to keep things in place or get things done. Managers trust their employees to complete tasks and move projects forward. A manager is a person with the potential to manage an entire company or organization. The image or reputation of an organization depends primarily on its management, so it is responsible for any problem that happens for any reason.
Goals of a manager
Some of the main objectives pursued by the manager of an organization are:
- Motivate the team
- Meet the short and long-term business goals
- Comply with business objectives timely
- Reduce operational costs
- Increase productivity
Leader vs. Manager
| Leaders | Managers |
| Leaders inspire and engage the team members to make the vision a reality. | Managers set, measure, and achieve business goals. They manage teams and situations to achieve or exceed those goals. |
| Leaders innovate. They embrace change and know that even if things are working, there can be a better way in the future. | Managers stick to their given goals. They fine-tune the systems, structures, and processes to improve things. |
| Leaders are unique and work towards building their unique and differentiated personal brand. | Managers imitate the competencies and demeanours they learn from their seniors or leaders and adapt their leadership styles instead of defining them. |
| Leaders are more open-minded and willing to try new things, even if they fail downright. They are risk-takers. | Managers control or manage risks. They are not risk-takers. |
| Leaders stay motivated toward a significant and long-term goal. | Managers work on short-term goals. |
| Leaders stay curious and seek to remain relevant in an ever-changing field of work. | Managers rely heavily on proven success formulas and behaviours. |
| Leaders build loyalty and trust by consistently delivering on their promises. | Managers focus on analytics and ensure systems are in place to achieve desired results. |
| Leaders help people achieve their goals. They do not ask people what to do. | Managers assign tasks to the teams and evaluate their performance occasionally. |
| Leaders build trust and have followers. | Managers have team members who follow directions and seek to please their bosses. |
Leaders and managers are two different positions that are sometimes confused. Both terms differ depending on their origin, definition, role, characters, tasks, position, goals, thoughts, etc. I hope this blog helped you understand the difference between leaders and managers.
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FAQs
Are all managers leaders, or vice versa?
Not necessarily. While some managers possess strong leadership qualities, not all of them do. Similarly, not every leader holds a formal managerial position. Leadership is a personal trait, and effective managers often demonstrate leadership qualities.
Can a person be both a leader and a manager simultaneously?
Yes, someone can be both a leader and a manager. This combination is often referred to as "leading by example." Such individuals guide their teams and actively participate in managing tasks and responsibilities.
What are the core functions of a manager?
Managers typically focus on planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling resources, including human resources, to achieve specific objectives and meet organizational goals efficiently.
How do leadership and management complement each other in a successful organization?
A successful organization strikes a balance between strong leadership and effective management. Leadership sets the direction and motivates employees to work toward common goals, while management ensures that the necessary resources, processes, and structures are in place to achieve those objectives efficiently.
Can leaders exist at all levels of an organization, not just the top management?
Absolutely. Leadership is not limited to top-level executives; it can be found at all levels of an organization. Leaders emerge based on their abilities, regardless of their formal position.
Rashmi is a postgraduate in Biotechnology with a flair for research-oriented work and has an experience of over 13 years in content creation and social media handling. She has a diversified writing portfolio and aim... Read Full Bio
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