Introduction
Leadership and management are two inescapable facts of our daily lives. Almost every entity – from political formations, to football clubs, to organizations and companies – has people at the helm who are supposed to provide strategic direction and guidance. The question that remains unanswered for most people is whether these individuals should be referred to as managers or leaders. It is important to note that the debate on whether there is any difference between leadership and management has been on for a long period of time. While there are those who believe that leadership and management are distinct, others hold the point of view that these two concepts overlap. Also, there are who are of the opinion that the two terms are in essence synonymous. Some of those who deem the two concepts as being distinct from each other are of the opinion that leadership and management are mutually exclusive, in that a competent manager cannot make a good leader, and vice versa.
It would be easy to refer to all managers as leaders. However, the question that one could ask is whether leadership is exercised by all managers. Also, it should be noted that there are individuals in positions of leadership despite having no management roles and duties. Given that the two terms continue to be used interchangeably in some settings, there is need to determine whether there exists any difference between leadership and management. This is more so the case given the need to better understand the nature of the two concepts with an aim of finding out how best leadership and/or management skills can be natured and further enhanced. In today’s dynamic world, and given the vigorous nature of modern workplaces, there is need to determine what exactly constitutes leadership and/or management and how exactly leaders and/or managers fit in the said settings. In that regard, therefore, the relevance of highlighting the differences (if any) between leadership and management cannot be overstated.
Research Question
Is there any difference between leadership and management? Over time, the terms leadership and management have been used synonymously. However, there are those who are of the opinion that the two are inherently distinct. There is need to determine whether the two concepts share roles, duties, and mandates. Also, in an attempt to find out whether (and how) the two concepts are connected, the unique functions as well as activities of both ought to be highlighted.
A Review of Literature
In seeking to highlight differences between leadership and management, there is need to define the terms separately so as to determine whether they converge or intersect by way of definition. Various definitions of leadership have been offered over time. As a matter of fact, it has often been said that the existing definitions of leadership out there are as many as the persons who have defined the term in the past. According to Kellerman (as cited in Rost, 1993), “leadership is the process by which one individual consistently exerts more impact than others on the nature and direction of group activity†(p. 72). This definition of leadership, as Rost (1993) points out is largely focused on the viewpoint of “do-as-the-leader’s-wishes†(p. 72). One key aspect of this particular definition is consistency. A person who influences the course and conduct of a given group for a short period of time and then loses that influence, cannot be regarded a true leader as per this definition. A group in this case could be made up of an infinite number of people and its mandate could vary widely. Those who fit the definition of leadership as per Kellerman’s definition include, but they are not limited to, religious leaders (such as the Pope – the leader of the Catholic Church) and political leaders (such as Vladimir Putin – the current president of Russia).
Yet another person who has attempted to define leadership is Gardner. According to Gardner (as cited in Rost, 1993), “leadership is the process of persuasion or example by which an individual (or leadership team) induces a group to pursue objectives held by the leader or shared by the leader and his or her followers†(p. 72). The defining aspect of this definition is that a leader need not necessarily be an individual. A ‘leader’ could comprise of a team of people exerting influence over an even larger group of people. The author also identifies two key ingredients of leadership – i.e. example and persuasion. What this, in essence, means is that a leader has to not only be persuasive so as to win the confidence of his or her followers, by he or she has to lead by example as well. This effectively means leaders should lead from the front. Also, as per Gardner’s definition, the objectives pursued could either be shared or held by the leader only, with the leader in the latter case persuading his followers to adopt the very same opinions or viewpoints.
Others who have attempted to give meaning to the term leader and/or leadership include, but that are not limited to Northouse (a university professor) and Nahavandi (a well-known author of leadership texts). A leader, according to Nahavandi (as cited in Ricketts and Ricketts, 2010), is “any person who influences individuals and groups within an organization, helps them in the establishment of goals, and guides them toward the achievement of those goals, thereby allowing them to be effective†(p. 5). Northouse (as cited in Ricketts and Ricketts. 2010), on the other hand, is of the opinion that leadership is a process occasioned by the influence of a group by an individual. The said influence could be towards the accomplishment of a specific objective.
A review of the various definitions of leadership that have been offered over time would not be complete without highlighting the definition of leadership as outlined in Stogdill’s leadership handbook. Bertocci (2009) points out that the said handbook is widely accepted as an authority on matters leadership. Leadership, according to Stogdill (as cited in Bertocci, 2009), “occurs when one group member modifies the motivation or competencies of others in the group†(p. 5). In that regard, therefore, leadership is not necessarily elective, i.e. a person could assume the position of leadership in a group setting without being expressly elected as group leader. Towards that end, Stogdill (as cited in Bertocci, 2009) is of the opinion that “leaders are agents of change, persons whose acts affect other people more than other people’s acts affect them†(p. 5). It is, therefore, clear that leaders often possess some innate leadership skills and capabilities that make other people submit to their viewpoints. By referring to leaders as agents of change, Stogdill acknowledges that by virtue of the influence they have over other persons, leaders often bring about change, with the said change being either positive or negative. This definition of leadership also seems to assert the relevance of persuasion in the leadership equation. As Bertocci observes, Stogdill’s definition puts great emphasis on the ability of a leader to influence the behavior of others. Persuasion is a skill that comes in handy in seeking to influence the behavior of other people.
It is important to note that as it has been pointed out elsewhere in this text, there are many definitions of leadership that have been proposed over time. As Rickets and Rickets (2010) note, over the past seven decades, more than three hundred and fifty leadership definitions have been offered. With that said, from the leadership definitions offered above, it is easy to identify some key leadership characteristics and attributes. These will come in handy in seeking to find out if any differences exist between leadership and management, and if so, what is the nature and form of those differences.
Now that various definitions of leadership have been offered, it would be prudent to take into consideration some of the definitions that have been presented by various authors and management experts for the term ‘management.’ Management, according to Armstrong and Stephens (2005) “is about deciding what to do and then getting it done through people†(p. 3). As the authors further point, as per their definition, people happen to be a key resource for management to take place. As a matter of fact, all the other resources, as Armstrong and Stephens (2005) observe, out are managed through people. Given that the overall resource management is entrusted to managers, the authors propose yet another definition of management – one that takes into consideration the ultimate accountability of managers as far as resource management is concerned. They, thus, state that management has got to do with “deciding what to do and then getting it done through the effective use of resources†(Armstrong and Stephens, 2005, p. 3).
Appley (as cited in Murugan, 2008) is of the opinion that “management consists in guiding human and physical resources into dynamic, hard-hitting organization unit that attains its objectives to the satisfaction of those served and with a high degree of morale and sense of attainment on the part of those rendering the service†(p. 2). In this definition, as is the case with the previous definition of management cited herein, management is presented as a deliberate process that concerns itself with the management of resources (human or otherwise). In that regard, therefore, managers are presented as persons who ought to follow a set of guiding principles so as to ensure that the resources under their control are managed in an effective and efficient manner.
Yet another definition of management that could come in handy is that by Henry Fayol. It should be noted that Fayol is generally credited with having made significant contributions to the area of business administration. According to Fayol (as cited in Murugan, 2008), “to manage is to forecast and to plan, to organize to command, to coordinate and to control†(p. 2). It is important to note that to accomplish these factors, one requites some specific skills and capabilities. These skills could be gained via gathered experience or in a classroom/instructional setting.
It would also be prudent to take into consideration the meaning the American Management Association attaches to management. This is more so the case given the prominent role the organization plays towards the enhancement of management training. Management, according to the American Management Association (as cited in Murugan, 2008), has got to do with “guiding human and physical resources into dynamic organizational units which attain their objectives to the satisfaction of those served and with a high degree of morale and sense of attainment on the part of those rendering service†(p. 3).
Management
Leadership
Concerned with attainment of order and consistency
Focuses on constructive and adaptive processes of change
A planning and budgeting affair
Focuses on establishment of direction and alignment of people towards goal attainment
Skill can be acquired
Skill is innate
Table 1.1 Key differences between leadership and management
From the definitions of leadership and management highlighted herein, management appears to be more deliberate than leadership. It involves the management as well as coordination of resources (including people) so as to achieve a specific objective. Leadership, on the other hand comes across as being less intentional. Leaders, as opposed to managers, seem to possess some innate skills and capabilities that enable them to influence others to action. While these skills appear to be largely inborn, the skillset required to be an effective manager can be acquired. This is more so the case given that “just as managers have subordinates and leaders have followers, managers create circles of power while leaders create circles of influence†(Nayar, 2013). According to Northouse (2010), while management is more concerned with the attainment of consistence as well as order, leadership largely focuses on the constructive and adaptive processes of change. Further, the author observes that unlike is the case with leadership, management is more of a planning and budgeting undertaking. It involves such roles as staffing and organizing as well as problem solving and controlling (Northouse, 2010). Leadership, on the other hand, concerns itself with the establishment of direction and alignment of people towards the attainment of specific goals and objectives (Northouse, 2010). Other than seeking to solve problems and establish control via such actions as the development of incentives, generation of workable solutions to problems, and institution of corrective measure in instances where there are deviations; leadership seeks to motivate and inspire via actions such as the empowerment of followers (Northouse, 2010).
In the final analysis, it appears that although these two concepts appear to go hand in hand in, they are very distinct. However, in some instances, the two appear to complement each other. For instance both, according to Northouse (2010), involve influence. Also, as the author further points out, both concepts involve working with people. Thus while distinct, “many of the functions of management are activities that are consistent with the definition of leadership†(Northouse, 2010, p. 9).
References
Armstrong, M. & Stephens, T. (2005). A Handbook of Management and Leadership: A Guide to Managing for Results. Sterling, VA: Kogan Page Publishers.
Bertocci, D.I. (2009). Leadership in Organizations: There is a Difference between Leaders and Managers. New York, NY: University Press of America.
Murugan, M.S. (2008). Management Principles and Practices. New Delhi: New Age International.
Northouse, P.G. (2010). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Washington, DC: SAGE
Nayar, V. (2013). Three Differences between Managers and Leaders. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2013/08/tests-of-a-leadership-transiti
Rost, J.C. (1993). Leadership for the Twenty-First Century. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group.
Ricketts, C. & Ricketts, J. (2010). Leadership: Personal Development and Career Success (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
