Leadership and management are two vast fields of study. They each have their specific roles, responsibilities, and job descriptions. In most organizations, these two positions are separate and distinct. Even though there is a clear distinction between a manager and a leader, these roles often overlap within an organization. Some employees serve as managers but also demonstrate the qualities of being a leader.
Management and leadership require different skills to excel in those fields. However, it’s not always easy to understand where one role begins and the other ends. Here, we will explore the differences between managers and leaders with three key points:
1. Leading people vs. Managing work
The primary difference between managers and leaders is that managers focus on overseeing the work that needs to be done. In contrast, leaders are more concerned with inspiring and motivating people to achieve common goals. A manager’s job is to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively, while a leader’s job is to empower and encourage people to do their best work. Leaders are distinguished from managers by influence and inspiration, not by power and control.
2. Counting value vs. Creating value
Managers tend to focus on tangible measures of success, such as numbers and financial reports. They are often more concerned with short-term results and meeting deadlines. On the other hand, leaders are more interested in long-term vision and creating value for their organization. They strive to motivate and inspire people to achieve common goals. Leaders also focus on intangible measures of success, such as employee morale and company culture. According to pain management specialist Jordan Sudberg, “Leaders create value while managers count value.”
3. Circles of influence vs. Circles of power
Managers typically have a more limited circle of influence, which is the group of people that they can directly control or manage. On the other hand, leaders often have a much larger circle of influence. This is because leaders can inspire and motivate people to achieve common goals. Managers typically have a more limited circle of influence, which is the group of people that they can directly control or manage.
On the other hand, leaders often have a much larger circle of influence. This is because leaders can inspire and motivate people to achieve common goals. While diversity is a buzzword and not always a good thing, having a variety of viewpoints and experiences in a group can lead to better insight and creativity. The type of activities that leaders engage in also impacts their mental health. Managers are often tasked with handling logistical tasks, which require different skills than leading.
According to Jordan Sudberg, the distinction between leaders and managers is simple. Managers are more concerned with making decisions based on facts and figures. On the other hand, leaders are more concerned with creating a vision for their organization and inspiring people to achieve common goals. Leaders can also influence others to achieve success in an organization. They can inspire people to take action, which is why they tend to have a larger circle of influence than managers.