Leadership and management are two terms that we are familiar with and are often used interchangeably. But while both are important to the success of an organisation, they are very different approaches to an authoritative role and require different individuals with different skillsets and approaches, says Ellené Pienaar-Carstens from Bizmod Development (BizDev).
Pienaar-Carstens says that when looking at the qualities and skillsets for each role, it is evident that all leaders can be managers, but not all managers can be leaders. “Saying this, it is important for organisations to understand the difference between the two roles as the right individuals need to be selected for the positions.”
All leaders can be managers, but not all managers can be leaders.
She highlights below the key differences between leaders and managers:
Leadership is the ability to motivate and inspire a team to achieve a shared goal. Leaders are:
- Individuals who have vision and the ability to communicate that vision to others in a means that inspires them to act.
- They motivate others to work towards a common goal by creating a sense of purpose and direction.
- They lead by example and are willing to take risks to achieve their vision.
- They are excellent communicators with good interpersonal skills who can build strong relationships with their team.
- They have the ability of quick decision-making and can adapt to changing circumstances when required.
Management is the process of planning, organising, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals. Managers are:
- Individuals who are responsible for coordinating and directing the work of others, to ensure that goals are met efficiently and effectively.
- They ensure that resources are being used wisely and that the organisation is operating in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- They are concerned with maintaining the status quo and ensuring that tasks are completed on time and within budget.
- Are organised, analytical and detail oriented.
“Overall leaders tend to be more innovative and forward-thinking, and managers tend to be more conservative and risk-averse,” says Pienaar-Carstens. Leadership can be taken a step further with the philosophy of servant leadership. This approach is based on the idea that leaders should be committed to serving the people they lead – helping them to develop and grow in an environment where they feel valued and respected – rather than seeking personal gain or control.
In conclusion, she says that “both roles are important for the success of an organisation and by having the right individuals in the right roles there is a balance between innovation and stability within the organisation.”
