Management is about seeking order and stability; leadership is about seeking adaptive and constructive change. (Kotter, 1990)
Although they are different in scope, Kotter (1990) contended that both management and leadership are essential if an organization is to prosper. For example, if an organization has strong management without leadership, the outcome can be stifling and bureaucratic. Conversely, if an organization has strong leadership without management, the outcome can be meaningless or misdirected change for change's sake. To be effective, organizations need to nourish both competent management and skilled leadership.
Bennis and Nanus (1985) maintained that there is a significant difference between the two. To manage means to accomplish activities and master routines, whereas to lead means to influence others and create visions for change. "Managers are people who do things right and leaders are people who do the right thing" (Bennis and Nanus, 1985)
Rost (1991) contended that leadership is a multidirectional influence relationship and management is a unidirectional authority relationship. Whereas leadership is concerned with the process of developing mutual purposes, management is directed toward coordinating activities in order to get the job done.
Zaleznik (1977) argued that managers and leaders are distinctly different types of people. He contended that managers are reactive and prefer to work with people to solve problems but do so with low emotional involvement. He suggested that leaders on the other hand, are emotionally active and involved. They seek to shape ideas instead of responding to them and act to expand the available options to solve long standing problems. Leaders change the way people think about what is possible.
Which one are you?
Information from Northouse 2010, LEADERSHIP - Theory and Practice, Fifth Edition
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