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Leadership Vs. Management

Leadership and Management are often used interchangeably or one miss used for the other. People we say that some one is a leader or that an organization needs leadership. People will then begin to list things the organization needs to implement in order to see growth. Yet most if not all of what is listed are tasks, policies and functions that people need to follow. So then if this is management and not leadership, what is the difference between the two?

The best description that I have heard the description that is used by John C. Maxwell when he said 'Leadership is influence. Nothing more and nothing less.' Leadership is influencing people to go in the direction you want to see your organization go in. It may take some task and getting people to follow some rules but with the purpose of getting them to see value in it. It is getting them to want to go in a direction not just so that it benefits you but also them.

Management is exactly what it sounds like: managing people. Management is a good thing but when people thing management is leadership there is bound to be problems. Management is making sure people show up to work not getting people to want to show up at work. Management is making sure people follow policies not getting people to see the value in the policies.

Leadership is people based and is about adding value to peoples lives. In return people of value will add value to the organization. Management is task based. It is making sure that things are done. There is no outside of the box thinking with management. The leader thinks outside of the box and creates the policies around that thought. Management enforces the policy.

So should a person be a leader or a manager? Well some people are gifted at managing and some are gifted at leadership. Both are needed. No matter which one a person is gifted at there needs to be some crossover. A manager is far more successful if they can lead as people will want to follow a leader rather than do a task because they are told to. A leader must understand management because if they are placed anywhere hire up in the hierarchy of the organization there will be at least some management required.

In the end though leadership will outweigh management. A leader will lead managers and managers will take care of management. Managers can only manage a lead for a short time as a leader will be frustrated with the lack of leadership of the manager.

Finding a manager is easier. Find someone who likes following steps and order with out change. Most people don't like change. Finding a leader requires finding someone who can influence people, think out of the box, see in to the future, and has a sense of what is going on in the area of things that are inviable to the average person.

To be successful you must be able to see that leadership has to go beyond managing people and performing the right tasks. True leadership must take people from where they are and into the future. You must be add value to the lives of others and show them the value you can add to there lives if they will be willing to follow you.

That is what leadership is about.

~ Orlund ~
[2008-06-22]