In any business setup, two positions are key to the success of the company/institution. These are the management and leadership positions. Managers and leaders working together help achieve goals and objectives. They steer the organization’s vision and lead to its achievement. In a way, one would say that both positions are the same. People often replace the words in place of the other.
So the question is, are these two words the same thing or are they different?
The naked truth is, leaders and managers aren’t the same. However, they complement each other to establish and surpass their end goals. Another thing to note is that managers can be leaders, but not all managers are leaders. This statement is true as there is a thin line between the characteristics of leaders and managers.
Who is a leader and what do they do?
Leaders are people who other employees can follow. They are responsible for the change. Leaders provide direction. They elaborate on the task at hand and the importance of its vision. Consequently, they lay down a plan to see to it that the objective is completed. They come up with strategies to help make the task a success.
A leader will be at the frontline of any changes brought about by the road taken. They guide and engage people on how to cope with the situation. Leaders take it upon themselves to build commitment for the realization of any projects.
Finally, leaders motivate others. Implementing some tasks and changes isn’t easy. Along the way, the road can be too bumpy and people start giving up. Hence, a leader seeks to raise the spirits by rewarding success and appreciating hard work and commitment.
Some of the traits of a good leader include good communication skills, being able to act as an inspiration, must be assertive, and must be people of great integrity and honesty.
What about managers?
For a manager, it is all in the name. They manage people and resources. They ensure that things are going the way they are supposed to. Among their duties are budgeting, clarifying jobs, planning and measuring performances.
Managers are in charge of allocating resources and responsibilities, making operational plans, monitoring progress and results as well as reinforcing the set strategies and rules. They make known to the employees the plan to achieve certain objectives. Ultimately, managers ensure coordination and results.
Managers are known to have traits such as the ability to direct, must be people-focused, must be able to execute visions and have a grip on process management.
All in all, leaders and managers must be able to lead, manage, and do. Now you know there is a difference between the two. Whichever category you fall in, be the best at it and know your roles starting with the above.
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