Difference Between Managers And Leaders example essay topic

Is there a difference between managers and leaders? To me, the answer is-absolutely. After researching articles about the differences between managers and leaders I concluded that my current work environment, which employs two principals, leans towards more managerial than leadership qualities. There is always the opportunity to become a manager, but becoming a leader takes a certain kind of higher learning and understanding in order to be practiced effectively.

A manager finds immediate solutions, a leader questions the solutions. The term manager exemplifies the more structured, controlled, analytical, orderly, and rule-oriented person. The leader exemplifies a more experimental, visionary, unstructured, flexible and risk taking person. Managers and leaders think differently internally, therefore the outcome is different externally. Below are a few examples of the differences between managers and leaders. Managers...

Leader... Maintains Develops Accepts reality Investigates it Has a short-range view Has a long-range perspective Has his / her eye on the bottom line Has his / her eye on the horizon Imitates Originates Accepts the status quo Challenges the status quo Classic good soldier His / her own person Are analytical / structured /orderly Are experimental / visionary /creative Use the power of logical mind Use the power of intuition Consider dangers Sense opportunity Isolate Correlate Think rivals / Competition Think Partners / Cooperation Correct Strategic Weaknesses Build on Strategic Strengths Administer Programs Develop People Formulate Policy Set Examples Instruct Inspire Control Empower Employ Consistency Employ Creativity Duplicate Originate See Complexity See Simplicity React ProactPlan Experiment Ask How Wonder Why Think Logically Think Laterally Are Skeptical Are Optimistic Take Charge Encourage Delegation Perform Duties Pursue Dreams Are Dependent Are Independent Inhabit the Present Reside in the future Want Good Demand Better Follow versions Pursue visions Static Evolving Easily fire employees Would rather self-improve employees Scrutinize performance Search for potential Fixed Mutable Warren Benn is-a popular writer of leadership resources-quotes "There is a profound difference between management and leadership, and both are important. To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of or responsibility for, to conduct. Leading is influencing, guiding in a direction, course, action, opinion. The distinction is crucial... Managers are people who do things right and leaders are people who do the right thing".

In my opinion, these examples show the slight differentiation between the manager and the leader. However, this slight difference is what makes a person distinguishable between their power to perform and their power to transform.