Katrina Phillips
University of Phoenix
Management and Leadership Paper
October 24, 2011
When we think about what a leader and manager is, most of us will use the same meaning. But in actual fact this is incorrect. We have to look at these two terms differently. What is a manager? A manager is someone who is responsible for directing and controlling the work and staff of a business, or of a department within the organization. So what is a leader? A leader is someone whom people follow, somebody who guides or directs others. Looking at both terms they both are very different. The question is always asked is a manager can be a leader and leader a manager. The true answer is managers are not always leaders, while leaders can be
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Because we know it is easier for a leader to be a manager, a manager can also be a leader. They need to understand the different roles and skills when it comes to becoming both. Some organizations are only looking specifically for managers. While other organizations want a person who obtains both skills. Depending on the type of organization culture the company has senior management would base their decision on that. Looking at the current economic environment managers should know how to perform many different tasks to keep the employees motivated. With this type of environment both the skills of a manager and a leader is required. Actually, strong management and leadership skills are necessary to tackle these difficult economic times.
The Roles and Responsibilities of Manager and Leaders
Understanding the difference and similarities between managers and leaders can be enlightening. Managers develop and manage plans that impact the strategic vision of an organization while leaders set strategic visions for the organization. Managers establish plans, support strategic plans, and organizational objectives. Managers also evaluate and track the achievement of tactical plans that have been assigned to specific staff. While on the other hand leaders motivate staff to achieve the object and task set forth. Managers serve as problem solvers. Managers are the people who assign resources to groups. On the hand leaders serve as persuasive change agents.
Studies on the subjects of leadership and management have the underlying difference between a leader and a manager as “managers maintain things and leaders change things.” Gill (2006:26) explains their difference as “Managers plan, allocate resources, administer and control whereas leaders innovate, communicate and motivate”
Managers direct and control. Leaders motivate and inspire. Stated another way, Managers get people to do what needs to be done. Leaders get people to want to do what needs to be done (read that again if you need to; the
There is a difference between leadership and management, although they are similar in some ways. While, they both want to achieve common goals, influence people, and work with people, they are different. Managers aim to create consistency and
Managing is about knowing the importance of coping with complexity which is planning well and knowing how to budget. Managers jobs also have to do with organizing and staffing and also they have to know how to stay in control and problem solve. Leadership is about coping with change which includes setting direction aligning people and motivating and inspiring. Someone who managers and everyone else can look up to. Clawson states “Leadership is about managing energy, first in yourself and then in those around you” (Clawson 2012, p. 3) With the leader being someone to look up to he opens the door and sets the path for the followers to want better for
The biggest difference between managers and leaders is the way they motivate people to follow them. Managers have a position within the organisation, their teams work for them to complete tasks and in turn manage situations as they occur. Leaders on the other hand do not have teams when they are leading. Instead, formal control is given up, as to lead is have followers and this is always a voluntary activity. Telling people what to do does not inspire
Both managers and leaders are responsible in assisting and keeping the hospital or organization running and promoting the organization to continue into the future. Managers and leaders have different distinct roles, but the ones that are the most effective, are the ones that will combine the roles and functions into their workday everyday. There roles and responsibilities can be similar, but also can be different. A manager can be a leader, but a leader isn’t necessarily a manager (GCU, 2011).
This paper is a critical analysis of the article “Spirituality as a Predictive Factor for Signing an Organ Donor Card”. The research was preformed by Anat Peles Bortz, RN, PhD, Tamar Ashkenazi, RN,PhD, and Semyon Melnikov, RN, PhD. The research was accepted for publication in 2014. The research was presented at the 25th International Nursing Research Congress Symposium in 2014 in Hong Kong. The research appears in Sigma Theta Tau International, Journal of Nursing Scholarship 2015. The research looked at two groups of people in Israel, those who signed an organ donor card
The Oxford English Dictionary describes the word leader as a “person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country” and describes the word manager as a “person responsible for controlling or administering all or part of company or similar organization”. Each of these meanings are very close in proximity however many in the business world have different definitions for each of these roles. Although they are different they are linked and are complementary to each other (Oxford Dictionary (American English)).
Management and leadership are viewed as two different perspectives in the business environment. As described by Dr. Warren Bennis ‘Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing’, this means that managers do things by the set rules and follow company policy, while leaders follow their own intuition, which may in turn be of more benefit to the company.
Managers are acknowledged based to their title within the organizations, whereas leaders are recognized by their characteristics. A good leader has the ability to influence people, while having integrity, and the ability to look outside of the box. A good leader is a person who is defined by the actions they take. Leaders have the ability to inspire those around them (Anderson, 2013). A good manager will do their job correctly according to expectations and job descriptions (Finkelman, 2012). Managers are usually more task oriented.
Leadership vs. Management, are they the same? No!. “A leader focus on setting goals and direction, challenging the norm, and seeking new ways of working towards the goals. On the other side, Managers specialize on conformance to the standards. They manage teams and individuals, organizing, directing and controlling to achieve goals” (EBA, 2016).
Do all managers have leadership skills? The majority of managers possesses management skills but lacks the leadership skills that are needed to be an accomplished person in charge. A manager is someone with a title, who has subordinates that are paid to obey and complete assignments. A leader is someone who people choose to follow. Leaders are not always managers. Any person
The difference between managers and leaders is that leaders have visions, strategies, and influences on people, while managers are more focused on implementing these elements (Robbins et al, 2012).
When I think of the difference between managers and leaders I immediately think of sports. In particular, I think of quarterbacks in football. Quarterbacks the most important player on the field at all times. Quarterbacks should have at least one of the two traits. He should either be able to be a leader or be able to manage. The best can do both. When a quarterback is a great leader he can communicate to the team, the team believes in him and follows his decisions dauntlessly. While a quarterback that is a manager is able to control the game. The type of quarterback that manages the pace and direction of the game may not be the number one motivator, but does execute with precision. To be successful you have to be able to execute, leading
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.