What is Leadership and How Does it Differ from Management

Leadership and management and their inter-relationship is a topic of debate in many corporate circles. Organizations are increasingly urging their managers to undertake a strategic management certificate course or a similar one where they can hone their leadership skills. As organizations lay stress on leadership skills, many people wonder about the difference between management and leadership

What is Leadership?

Leadership is the ability or skill of a person to lead or guide individuals or groups of people towards a common goal. A leader displays many virtues like honesty, openness and integrity. He has the ability to convince others of his thoughts. He can make his followers believe in him and place their trust in his abilities to guide them through. In challenging or adverse situations, he can motivate his team and inspire them to achieve tough targets both in personal or professional life.

One of his skills is his ability to communicate effectively across all levels in an organization. As an effective communicator, he is also a good listener. He is aware of his team members’ needs supports them. A leader commands respect and empathy from his team.

What Does a Manager Do?

A manager’s role is more tactical in nature. He carries out the four relevant spheres is managerial life. He plans, organizes, delegates and controls different parts of work. In the process, he also controls his team members to ensure that the assigned work is done properly and on time.

Managers are required to be leaders in order to carry out their duties well. A manager without leadership qualities is ineffective at his place of work.

Difference Between Leadership and Management

Leadership as discussed above has a much larger scope than management. A manager drives his team members to finish the task on time, whereas a manager motivates them to drive themselves. A good manager is also a leader, and this makes him highly effective in not only finishing a task on time but also do it perfectly and think ahead for the future. A leader creates an atmosphere of efficiency and proactiveness at work. His skills go beyond managing tactical responsibilities and groom his team as a cohesive unit. A good leader increases employee satisfaction and leads to reduction in employee attrition.

Leadership is a crucial skill in management circles. With good leadership, a manager can continually motivate and inspire his team.