Difference between Leader and Manager
Leadership and management are often confused terms. What is the difference between a leader and a manager?
The main difference between a leader and a manager lies in their approaches and focuses. A leader inspires, motivates, and guides a team or organization towards a shared vision or goal, while a manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and coordinating the day-to-day operations of a team or department.
John Kotter of the Harvard Business School says management is concerned with complexity. Good management enforces order and consistency by planning formally, designing rigid organizational structures, and comparing results to plans. Leadership, in contrast, refers to managing change. Leaders set the course with a vision of the future. Then, to engage employees, they communicate this vision and inspire them to overcome obstacles. The blog covers the definition of leaders and managers and will help you understand the difference between leader and manager.
If you want to improve your management and leadership skills, consider these online leadership and business strategy courses from top course providers like Great Learning, edX, Udemy, Coursera, etc. You can also explore FREE Online Courses according to your learning requirements.
Read Later
What is a Leader?
A leader is a visionary with skills to convey and promote their vision effectively. Leaders stand out from the group, exercising influence and encouragement to achieve a common goal, having skills such as systematising ideas, successful decision-making, etc.
Leaders inspire, instruct, listen, and facilitate the execution of tasks by all those under their leadership, making them champions. They inspire high performance among their subordinates by showing them how to establish challenging goals. Leaders mentor and motivate team members to work better.
Leaders are driven to innovate, bringing fresh ideas and techniques that break convention. Instead of taking the usual routes, they chart their own paths, establishing new standards and practices.
Best-suited Business & Management Studies courses for you
Learn Business & Management Studies with these high-rated online courses
What is a Manager?
Managers are in charge of the operational part of coordinating teams and resources to achieve business objectives. The company hires them to keep things in place or get things done. Managers trust their employees to complete tasks and move projects forward. A manager is a person with the potential to manage an entire company or organization. The image or reputation of an organization depends primarily on its management, so it is responsible for any problem that happens for any reason.
Goals of a manager
Some of the main objectives pursued by the manager of an organization are:
- Motivate the team.
- Meet the short and long-term business goals.
- Comply with business objectives in a timely manner.
- Reduce operational costs.
- Increase productivity.
Leader vs. Manager
| Leaders | Managers |
| Leaders inspire and engage the team members to make the vision a reality. | Managers set, measure, and achieve business goals. They manage teams and situations to achieve or exceed those goals. |
| Leaders innovate. They embrace change and know that even if things are working, there can be a better way in the future. | Managers stick to their given goals. They fine-tune the systems, structures, and processes to improve things. |
| Leaders are unique and work towards building their unique and differentiated personal brand. | Managers imitate the competencies and demeanours they learn from their seniors or leaders and adapt their leadership styles instead of defining them. |
| Leaders are more open-minded and willing to try new things, even if they fail downright. They are risk-takers. | Managers control or manage risks. They are not risk-takers. |
| Leaders stay motivated toward a significant and long-term goal. | Managers work on short-term goals. |
| Leaders stay curious and seek to remain relevant in an ever-changing field of work. | Managers rely heavily on proven success formulas and behaviours. |
| Leaders build loyalty and trust by consistently delivering on their promises. | Managers focus on analytics and ensure systems are in place to achieve desired results. |
| Leaders help people achieve their goals. They do not ask people what to do. | Managers assign tasks to the teams and evaluate their performance occasionally. |
| Leaders build trust and have followers. | Managers have team members who follow directions and seek to please their bosses. |
Here are the differences between leaders and managers based on different aspects:
Decision-Making
Leaders:
- Strategic decisions are made by leaders based on long-term visions and goals.
- Decisions tend to be risky and use intuition and a broad perspective.
- They are concerned with the "what" and "why" of decisions, breaking the status quo when needed.
Managers:
- Managers make decisions using analytical and systematic procedures.
- Decisions are usually short-term operational requirements and data-driven.
- Concentrate on the "how" and "when" of decisions, trying to streamline processes and reduce risks.
Impact on Teams
Leaders:
- Motivate and inspire team members, giving them a sense of purpose and vision.
- Foster personal and professional growth, seeking to optimize the potential of team members.
- Establish a culture of innovation and change.
Managers:
- Concentrate on boosting daily performance and productivity.
- Adopt discipline and order within the team for goal realization.
- Regularly review team operations and make appropriate adjustments
Employee Engagement
Leaders:
- Establish a powerful corporate culture and feeling of belongingness, strengthening employee engagement.
- Appreciate employees and invest in their growth, stimulating passion and creativity.
Managers:
- Pursue structural considerations and procedures influencing job satisfaction and effectiveness.
- Work to maximize employee performance and organizational objectives by maximizing performance management.
Communication Styles
Leaders:
- Communicate openly and inspire people.
- Build trust and loyalty.
- Present the big picture and encourage alignment with the company vision.
Managers:
- Communicate clearly and consistently, providing specific information for daily operations.
- Focus on ensuring smooth business processes and meeting expectations.
Overall Roles
Leaders:
- Set the goals and motivate teams to achieve them.
- Foster creativity and innovation, often taking risks to drive change.
Managers:
- Focus on achieving organizational goals through efficient processes.
- Maintain stability and order, ensuring smooth operations.
FAQs
Are all managers leaders, or vice versa?
Not necessarily. While some managers possess strong leadership qualities, not all of them do. Similarly, not every leader holds a formal managerial position. Leadership is a personal trait, and effective managers often demonstrate leadership qualities.
Can a person be both a leader and a manager simultaneously?
Yes, someone can be both a leader and a manager. This combination is often referred to as "leading by example." Such individuals guide their teams and actively participate in managing tasks and responsibilities.
What are the core functions of a manager?
Managers typically focus on planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling resources, including human resources, to achieve specific objectives and meet organizational goals efficiently.
How do leadership and management complement each other in a successful organization?
A successful organization strikes a balance between strong leadership and effective management. Leadership sets the direction and motivates employees to work toward common goals, while management ensures that the necessary resources, processes, and structures are in place to achieve those objectives efficiently.
Can leaders exist at all levels of an organization, not just the top management?
Absolutely. Leadership is not limited to top-level executives; it can be found at all levels of an organization. Leaders emerge based on their abilities, regardless of their formal position.
Rashmi is a postgraduate in Biotechnology with a flair for research-oriented work and has an experience of over 13 years in content creation and social media handling. She has a diversified writing portfolio and aim... Read Full Bio
Top Picks & New Arrivals
