StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

3 key differences between managers and leaders - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Certain theorists assert that there is no difference between a leader and a manger, others are of the idea that both of the positions are two different ends of a paradigm and then there are those who believe that there are certain elements that overlap in both the position…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.2% of users find it useful
3 key differences between managers and leaders
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "3 key differences between managers and leaders"

Differences between Managers and Leaders Differences between Managers and Leaders IntroductionCertain theorists assert that there is no difference between a leader and a manger, others are of the idea that both of the positions are two different ends of a paradigm and then there are those who believe that there are certain elements that overlap in both the position (LEDLOW, 2011, p.192). Both the position of leader and manager are quite different from each other, the three main differences between the positions of a leader and a manager includes: the leader is an innovator and the manager is an administrator, leadership is dependent on trust and management is deponent on control and how both these position obtain their power.

Body Kotter asserts that when an individual is playing the role of a leader he comes up with new ideas and plans and persuades his/her followers into thinking about a future that is both positive and beneficial in nature (KOTTERMAN, 2006, p.15). A leader always has to keep his eyes open for opportunities and develop new techniques and strategies in accordance to these opportunities. On the contrary, a manager has the responsibility of maintaining how the organization is currently running and the culture that has been adopted by the organization.

His main aim is to secure the organization’s bottom line and maintain discipline through his controlling role. According to Nicholaides’ research that the role of a leader is to inspire his/her followers to make them perform at their best and he is well aware of how follower’s pace of work can be increased (Nicolaides, 2010, p.32). He asserts that success in leadership is not dependent on what the individual leader does; it is rather dependant on what the followers do in response to a leader.

On the other hand a manager is an individual who uses his control over the employees and subordinates by assisting them in developing their personal asserts and helping them in using their best talents. Any individual within the organization can become a leader, a leader’s power are not dependant on the position he is assigned to within the organization. For example: a leader can be an executive working in the information technology department. This is because he has expertise and information that nobody else within the organization has and in order to obtain his/her expertise, followers accept him/her as a leader.

Stanley suggests that a manager obtains his power due to his/her management level position within the hierarchy of an organization (STANLEY, 2006, p.33). Grint asserts that even managers are followers of a leader as a leader creates the vision of a future and this vision needs to be followed by the managers (GRINT, 2002, p.248).Conclusion There has always been a debate on whether leaders and managers are the same or whether they are two different ends of a continuum. Various researchers suggest that both these positions are completely separate.

The three main differences between a leader and a follower includes: the acquisition of power, the innovative nature of the leader and the maintenance nature of a manager and the leaders dependency on trust and the manager’s dependency on control. ReferencesGRINT, K. (2002). Management or leadership? Journal of Health Services Research and Policy. 7, 248-251.KOTTERMAN, J. (2006). In My View. - Leadership Versus Management: Whats the Difference? The terms leadership and management are often used interchangeably.

Research shows how they overlap and how they diverge. The Journal for Quality and Participation. 29, 13.LEDLOW, G. R., & COPPOLA, M. N. (2011). Leadership for health professionals: theory, skills, and applications. Sudbury, Mass, Jones and Bartlett.Nicolaides, A. (2010) Transcendental Leadership versus Management in the South African Hospitality Industry: A Recipe for Success. [online] Available at: http://m08.cgpublisher.com/proposals/475/index_html [Accessed: 5 Mar 2013]. STANLEY, D. (2006).

Applied leadership - Role conflict: Leaders and managers - David Stanley reviews the literature, and discusses his own research, on the difference between management and leadership. Nursing Management. 13, 31.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“3 key differences between managers and leaders Essay”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/management/1617097-3-key-differences-between-managers-and-leaders
(3 Key Differences Between Managers and Leaders Essay)
https://studentshare.org/management/1617097-3-key-differences-between-managers-and-leaders.
“3 Key Differences Between Managers and Leaders Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/management/1617097-3-key-differences-between-managers-and-leaders.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF 3 key differences between managers and leaders

The Phenomenon of Leadership

The so-called 'workers of influence' theory of leadership is particularly important to understand the distinction between managers and leaders.... According to this theory leaders may operate at different levels within the organization and within the same hierarchical level as their followers.... Etzioni (1961) undertook the pioneering research effort to prove existence of leaders operating on the same hierarchical level with their followers....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Perspectives on People at Work

Successful management requires many of the characteristics common to all managers, but also requires special abilities to manage any organization in today's rapidly changing environment.... The impact of individual differences on the staff is important because managers are judged not just on their own performance but on the results achieved by subordinate staff.... The personal qualities of managers are identified as an essential part of the process of management and require that proper attention be given to the personnel function....
8 Pages (2000 words) Term Paper

Behavioural Studies

The argument for differentiating between leaders and managers was started by Zaleznik (1977, 2004) in 'Manager and Leaders: Are they different' where he argued "the difference between managers and leaders lies in the conceptions they hold, deep in their psyches, of chaos and order".... hen looking at how the management of people can contribute to effective organisational behaviour, development and good health through leadership it is important to establish the differences between management and leadership....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

How to Cope with the Problematic Situation

The so-called 'workers of influence' theory of leadership is particularly important to understand the distinction between managers and leaders.... According to this theory, leaders may operate at different levels within the organization and within the same hierarchical level as their followers.... The paper seeks to reveal the key factors that contribute to such situation.... he key idea of this theory is that leadership may be exhibited by anyone in the organization in any type of position (Yukl 1989)....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

The Vidsoft Situation

nbsp; leaders may choose to take the route of encouraging the people they are working with so that they can also have creative input, and thus make themselves a true team leader, not just a leader in name only.... The paper "The Vidsoft Situation " discusses that it is quite important to state that the leader is not the lone representative of a team or group of people; it is bigger than that- there are lessons to be learned and given from and by everyone involved....
9 Pages (2250 words) Case Study

Leadership, Management

Answers: There is a key difference when it comes to comparing mangers and leaders.... In fact the natural traits of a human being make them effective leaders.... Although Therefore similar to artist leaders have a path which is not predefined and challenges which are unknown.... The role of leaders and mangers is very different in organizations.... leaders on the other hand do not have a manual to follows.... Answers: The expectations and the sources of these expectations are different for each category of leaders....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Leadership and Management

Although there are differences in the approach of both managers and leaders, but the aim behind their activities is the same.... There are just small differences between the two concepts Let us discuss both concepts in detail in order clarify that leadership and management have no clear differences.... The aim of both leaders and managers is to make people/subordinates… Both leadership and management involve working with people, influence, concern about achievement of goals, and other common characteristics (Prussakov, 2009)....
16 Pages (4000 words) Essay

Leadership and Ethics for Managers

Role of relationship development and management is The leader member exchange theory refers to the relationship built due to time pressure by leaders with the small group of followers.... In history when the relationship between leaders and provided followers begun leader categorized their followers into two groups “in group” and “out group” and stability seen in such relationships over time.... It has been encountered that there is no such procedure through which leaders chose their in-group member, but they choose on the basis of similarities in characteristics of personality, attitude and demographic or it can be said that on a higher level of competence (Duchon, Green, and Taber, 1986)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us