Leader or manager?
I met up last week with the second team of people who have just completed our one year Future Leaders programme (“FL2”), preparing them for leadership roles within IRIS, which could either result in them leading a team or in an expert/specialist role.
Their enthusiasm was totally addictive as was their desire to learn and continuously question. The unanimous feedback was that they had benefitted significantly from the programme, particularly in ways they hadn’t expected.
The biggest surprise to participants in both this programme and the employee workshops we’ve been running over a number of years, is just how much we can all learn from each other, particularly those who are very different from ourselves. The more we understand the challenges faced by our colleagues in different functional areas, the better we can operate as a team and the better we are able to communicate with people different from ourselves. We may not always have the answer on our own, but together we can get there.
So, what’s the difference between a leader and a manager?
There are numerous definitions out there, and leadership is obviously a facet of management. However, the main difference to me is that a leader is someone who is followed and is a role model for others, where a manager is somebody who manages by authority. There’s always room for more leaders.
What do you think?
Posted: February 17th, 2010 under Martin Leuw.
Comments
Comment from Gail Ball
Time February 18, 2010 at 2:41 pm
I think you can be taught to manage and are often a manger because you have experience, but you are born a leader.
Comment from Simon Foulkes
Time February 18, 2010 at 5:24 pm
In my experience managers spend the majority of their time reporting to their superiors, and then cascade strategic decisions back down to their teams. Leaders make it happen.
Comment from Rich Mephan
Time February 19, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I believe this to be quite a simple debate, a member of the senior management team in legal recently told me.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are a leader”
That is the difference in my opinion between a manager and a leader, that said, I believe it to be very rare to find someone who can be both at the same time.
Comment from Ian Crossley
Time February 19, 2010 at 5:03 pm
I think that the comment Rich posted is succint and apposite.
Day to day reality is that most great leaders need to delegate to managers supporting them in order to free themselves up to continue providing inspirational leadership.
Good leadership empowers good managers by avoiding micromanangement and delegating authority. Effective managers who may be ‘managing by authority’ can by their very management style create a sense of vision within their own team. A ‘leader-manager’ hybrid, perhaps?
Where I am, I feel empowered. A great position to be in.
Comment from Kimmie James
Time February 27, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Very good points about the differences between managers and leaders. Going back to the basic cliché of followers and leaders; people will always fall into one of these two categories regardless of job titles and environment. Any leader can inspire and motivate. However, it’s important to separate the types of leaders: spinners and doers.
Spinners perceive themselves to be leaders and go through the motions of inspiring and motivating. They influence through propaganda and power (eg Hitler). Spinners always have a hidden agenda and will always put themselves first. If anyone sees through this then the spin is increased in all directions to minimise the affect.
Doers (true leaders) are just the opposite. They do not rely on propaganda and power, but motivate and inspire through honesty, respect and integrity. There is no hidden agenda and they will always put the greater good over themselves.
I think we all have an idea of the differences between those who manage people and those who lead people. But can you tell the difference between the types of leaders? Do they share your ethics, morals and values? Do they want everyone to be a success, or just themselves?
Comment from Steven James
Time February 17, 2010 at 7:46 pm
I think of it as the Manager keeps everyone at optimal performance running along the path. A leader though can also make the path and is willing to help anyone learn to do the same.