Leadership Vs Management 
Three essential facts

Leaders and managers are both essential for team and organizational success.
They are complementary, but they are not the same.
Understanding the difference helps organizations be more effective.

So what is leadership?

"Leading is influencing, guiding in a direction, course, action or opinion." (Warren Bennis) [1]
So what is management?

"To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of or responsibility for, to conduct." (Warren Bennis) [2]

So what's the difference?

Leaders create a vision and generate support for it. 
Managers work to make the vision become a reality.

The challenge organizations face

How to combine the best aspects of leadership and management and use them to balance each other out.
Four common misconceptions about leadership

Misconception #1
The terms 'management' and 'leadership' can be used interchangeably. 

The reality
Although they may complement each other, leadership and management are very different. 

Misconception #2
'Leadership' only refers to people at the very top of organizations and that everyone below is 'management.'

The reality
The reality is that leaders can and do exist at all levels in an organization.

Misconception #3
Leadership is heavily linked to personality or charisma. 

The reality
This suggests leadership qualities are something you are born with. However, through a process of improved self-awareness, personal development and experience, leadership can be learned.

Misconception #4
Managers are 'drones' and leaders are 'visionaries.'

The reality
This stereotypical view of organizational life isn't accurate, and dumbs down the important role that managers play. 

How leaders and managers complement each other [3]

Focus
A leader:
creates a vision and strategy
keeps an eye on the future
focuses on people

A manager: 
creates specific goals and plans
keeps an eye on the bottom line
focuses on process and structure

Perspective
A leader:
has a long range perspective
asks 'what' and 'why'

A manager:
has a short range view
asks 'how' and 'when'

Alignment
A leader:
creates a culture and strong values			
provides the big picture	
reduces boundaries

A manager:
organises and staffs
provides specific direction
creates boundaries			
							
Relationships
A leader:
acts as a coach
has persuasion power
stokes the fire within people

A manager:
acts as a boss
has position power
lights a fire under people

Outcomes
A leader:
creates change	
chooses the path

A manager:
maintains stability
gets results

Remember: not every leader is a manager, but every manager has to show leadership.

References

[1] Warren Bennis, Learning to Lead: A Workbook on Becoming a Leader, (Perseus Books, Addison Wesley, 1997) p9.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Paul J Schoemaker and J Edward Russo, 'A Pyramid of Decision Approaches', California Management Review (Fall 1993) pp 9-31. Copyright (c) 1993, by The Regents of the University of California. Reprinted from the California Management Review, Vol. 36, No. 1. By permission of The Regents.


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