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Business Leadership Essay

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In corporate America the term used to describe a person in a position of power is “Manager”. A leader can be a manager, but a manager is not necessarily a leader. Leaders motivate, challenge, and influence others to achieve goals. Great leaders have the necessary skills and attributes which allow them to connect with the team and organization. Being a leader is not the same as managing an organization. Leader’s posses the interpersonal skills needed to influence others to achieve a goal willingly. Leading is a major part of a manager’s job. Leaders do not need to be a manager to lead people, but managers must know how to lead as well as manage. Each person in a company brings his or her own experiences, values, and beliefs to the …show more content…

Bova (2008) states that the following four characteristics are found in good leaders: they believe in open communication, they do not stick with the status quo, they are selective in what they measure, and they have passion for values and culture. Each characteristic is essential to a healthy organizational culture. When an employee feels he or she has open communication with a leader, they are more inclined to share if problems arise whether or not work related. Non-work related issues may eventually take a toll on an employee’s performance at work. However, with open communication, an employee feels comfortable in apprising the leader of a situation so that future problems are avoided.
Not all managers are leaders and not all leaders are managers. The biggest difference between management and leadership is people skills. In determining if a person is a leader or a manager, Bova (2008) lists some differences with which many a person would agree. One difference is that a manager directs people. Managers essentially tell employees to get the job done. Many people work on autopilot until their work shift ends. However, people will follow a leader. Leaders inspire others to want to strive for their best and to go beyond their normal duties.
Another difference between managers and leaders is that managers tend to control or micromanage their department. Such management style causes employees to be unhappy and possibly rebel. Under these types of

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