LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Leadership and management are two different concepts. While both roles involve working with people and achieving goals, there are some differences between them. According to Forbes, leaders create a vision while managers create goals. Leaders paint a picture of what they see as possible and inspire and engage their people in turning that vision into reality. They think beyond what individuals do. They activate people to be part of something bigger. They know that high-functioning teams can accomplish a lot more working together than individuals working autonomously. Managers focus on setting, measuring, and achieving goals. They control situations to reach or exceed their objectives.

Another difference is that leaders are change agents while managers maintain the status quo. Leaders are proud disrupters. Innovation is their mantra. They embrace change and know that even if things are working, there could be a better way forward. And they understand and accept the fact that changes to the system often create waves. Managers stick with what works, refining systems, structures, and processes to make them better.

According to GeeksforGeeks, leaders' processes are transformational as compared to managers whose processes are transactional as they focus on maintaining the status quo.