Some people believe that leading and managing are one in the
same, but in reality, there are differences between them. Management deals with
processes while leadership deals with people. It is possible to be good at one
and not the other.
The
manager will look at what is being done, determine what needs to be done to
improve and create a plan for achieving that end. A good manager will then
communicate the objectives to their employees and allow them to achieve it.
They will spend time overseeing the system to ensure that it is working and
make any necessary changes to it. Managers strive to ensure that their system
is running smoothly and that any wrinkles get ironed out before they become a
problem.
A
leader will have a vision for themselves, department or organization and
communicate that vision to the staff. Leaders then try and get as many people
to buy into that vision as possible and then mobilize everyone to achieve it.
Leaders work to develop relationships and strive to have everyone working
together for a greater goal. Leaders understand that each employee is an
individual and that they will need individual coaxing.
It
is possible to be good at both, or to have a leadership team that is good at
creating both systems and motivating employees. Having the ability to provide
oversight in both areas of administration will keep the organization moving
forward and show the staff they are valued and their work is appreciated.
