Define leadership. Is it the same as managing?

Question

What is Leadership? Is there a difference between leadership and management? What are the differences, if any?

Answer 1

Leadership is about exhibiting personal qualities that attract other people to follow. Followers decide what they find attractive, depending upon their needs and the situation. The leader's challenge is to express him/herself in a way that is appealing to the people s/he wants to engage with.

Managing is exercising control over things including people. The possibility for control arises because, often in an employment agreement, a person has agreed to let someone else control their activities, within some framework, in return for payment.

Managers control their subordinates. Leaders attract their followers.

Managing and leading are similar in that:
1. Managers and Leaders influence others and
2. Subordinates and followers agree to be influenced in return for something they want.

Managing and leading are dissimilar in that:
1. Managing occurs in a relationship framework of objective, cause and effect, negotiated agreements for the implementation or execution of specific objectives. Managers tend to focus subordinates' energies on specific tasks by restricting the subordinate's freedom of choice and this is why being managed can feel like an imposition.
2. Leading occurs in the realm of subjective motivations and values. Good leaders tend to inspire people to find the motivation to do things they might not have believed they could accomplish and in this way increase their followers freedom.

Answer 2

management and leadership can be looked at as different sides of the same coin. Management in the process (what needs doing and what do you do to achieve this). Leadership is about personal qualities the skills and style in which you manage an event. good leadership is about being intouch with your team and the respect and motivation that that brings.

Consider History - Napoleon, Hitler, Joan of Arc, Queen Elizebeth 1, Winston Churchil - these people were not managers, and rightly or wrongly they inspired there people

Answer 3

Oooo, this is a good question! I am a manager and have a degree in management. Honestly, they are similar, but I would not say they are the same.

To me, manager is a position, a vocation. It requires you to fulfill your everyday job expectations. (Give reviews, attend meetings, sign timecards, etc.)

A leader is not a position, it is a quality. To be considered a good leader is more about HOW you manage, not that you just manage. Do your people want to follow you? Do they respect you? Do they want your input? These are all signs of being a good leader.

I think you can be a manager without being a leader.