Most raise the question 'What is leadership and what is the difference between leadership and management? In practice, these two terms are used interchangeably, raising further confusion. Both have distinct meanings. One simple but rather incorrect and loose definition is Leaders lead people, whereas Managers manage tasks. But managers also have to lead people. However, the difference between leadership and management is:
Leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that they follow. The leader is the spearhead.
Management controls or directs people/resources in a group according to principles or values that have already been established.
The difference between leadership and management can be best illustrated by considering what happens when you have one without the other.
Leadership without management - sets a direction or vision that others follow, without considering too much how the new direction is going to be achieved. Other people then have to work hard in the trail that is left behind, picking up the pieces and making it work. Gandhi is a typical example of this type of leader.
Management without leadership - controls resources to maintain the status quo or ensure things happen according to already-established plans. A referee in a game does this. He ensures the rules are followed. Here the management is through the authority allocated to the position or job.
Leadership combined with management - does both - it both sets a new direction and manages the resources to achieve it. Eg: a newly elected president of USA or prime minister of UK or India. Such leaders are expected to act in an executive capacity.
Symbolic Leadership - This is more figurative. The British Monarch is a figure head. She is referred to as a leader but hardly provides leadership. Same is the case with the President of India. They are just titular heads. However, they may be called upon to provide leadership by virtue of their position and status in the event of a war or other natural calamities.
Nelson Mandela was in prison for a very long time but was considered a leader against the apartheid regime by the whole world. He could do nothing from the Robin Island Prison. He was a silent symbolic leader then. However, when released from prison, he became a great leader by a simple master stroke. He extended a hand of friendship to his oppressors like Gandhi did with non-violence movement. Mandela just destroyed the credibility of the apartheid regime in a second.
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The difference between Leadership and Management - To learn more about this author, visit Madhavan T Gopalachary's Website.
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Madhavan T Gopalachary
(Visit Madhavan's Website)
Madhavan Gopalachary, nick name "madgopes"
(g pronounced as in go) given by IIT
classmates, is a Mechanical Engineer and
an alumnus of Indian Institute of
Technology, Madras having passed out
specializing in IC Engines &
Thermodynamics.
He has nearly 35 years of experience in
the Corporate World. He started off as a
trainee and handled sales, marketing,
manufacturing, product management, profit
center management, strategic planning and
corporate development including R & D in
various organizations and at various
levels before becoming a CEO. His last two
professional assignments were at CEO level
before embarking to start management
consultancy business on January 01, 1998.
He has worked for British, Swedish MNCs as
well as very large Indian business houses.
He has spent a large portion of his time
from June 1998 till date in East African
Countries practicing as an independent
Management Consultant.
More details can be obtained at the
following web sites:
mmg.name
/mtg.html;
mmgconsu
lting.biz/
Madhavan's articles can be accessed at www.madgopes.com
.
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“Having a personality of caring about people is important,” says Branson. “You can’t be a good leader unless you generally like people. That is how you bring out the best in them.”
