It’s not difficult to see why the terms “leader” and “manager” are often used interchangeably. They both represent positions of authority and focus on improving an organization. That said, they are dissimilar in many ways.
To understand the differences, you must know what defines a leader and a manager.
Who is a leader?
WeWork defines a leader as “someone who guides others toward a shared goal or unites them behind an idea or vision.”
Importantly, “Leaders do not have to hold a specific title or be in a formally recognized position of leadership. They can be absolutely anyone, so long as their words and actions influence and direct the behaviors of people around them.”
Common traits of a leader include:
- Visionary.
- Strategic.
- Persuasive.
- Passionate.
- Empathetic.
- Creative.
- Innovative.
- Forward-thinking.
- Open-minded.
- Great at communicating.
- Achievement-oriented.
Who is a manager?
According to WeWork, a manager “is a type of role within a traditional business hierarchy. They can be any person employed to manage or supervise employees.”
Managers organize their employees to ensure they’re meeting the company’s mission and objectives. They carry out many of the day-to-day operational tasks, including hiring and firing employees and allocating resources.
Common traits of a manager include:
- Goal-oriented.
- Results-oriented.
- Team-oriented.
- Dependable.
A manager must be skilled at:
- Planning (creating new goals and objectives).
- Organizing (allocating resources and workloads).
- Controlling (hiring, firing, evaluating performance, etc.).
- Communicating with and directing employees.
- Managing processes.
Keep in mind, leaders and managers share overlapping characteristics, despite their trait differences. For example, it’s not only leaders who need to be empathetic. Managers must be empathetic, too, in order to get the best out of their teams. However, empathy is more frequently associated with leaders than managers.
For example, leaders must be empathetic to make strategic decisions that positively influence the overall organization — not just employee group(s), as with managers.
General comparisons between leaders and managers
- Leaders take risks. Managers strive to minimize risks.
- Leaders accomplish missions. Managers achieve goals.
- Leaders coach people to grow professionally and personally. Managers direct employees to fulfill company goals.
- Leaders often attract fans (due to their innate ability to inspire). Managers have employees.
- Leaders focus on all stakeholders. Managers focus on the systems and processes needed to achieve assigned goals.
- Leaders think long term. Managers work toward shorter-term goals.
- Leaders are agents of change. Managers tend to maintain the status quo.
- Leaders have a qualitative effect on an organization. Managers have a quantitative/measurable impact.
Effective leadership and management
It’s important to note that organizations need both effective leaders and managers.
Effective leaders inspire and motivate others toward a shared objective. Effective managers set realistic goals and optimize employee performance.
When assigning leadership and management roles, you will need to determine which one best suits the individuals.
