Leadership and Managment

 750-850

        Leadership has been defined in the online Oxford dictionary as an action and the ability of leading an organization, people, or a group of people. Peter Drucker notes: "The only definition of a leader is someone who has followers. To gain followers requires influence but doesn't exclude the lack of integrity in achieving this.” Management on the other hand is the process of controlling and dealing with people within an organization in order to accomplish organizational goals.

        Alan Murray states that  even thou leadership and management are somewhat different, they are interrelated and interlinked in most situations, with an emphasis that management focuses on planning, coordination and organization in contrast to leadership which emphasizes on motivation and inspiration of individuals, group of persons and organizations.

        What are these innate differences between leadership and management? Below is a list, not exhaustive of the core differences in leadership and management.

        Leadership is inborn have some essential attributes such as vision, integrity, trust, selflessness, commitment, creative ability, toughness, communication ability, risk taking and visibility (Capowski, 1994).

        Management use planning, organizing and staffing to achieve set and desired visions and goals of the company, leadership however set down the visions, motivate people and direct them to aspire to achieve the same.( Kotter , 2001)

        Leaders have been proven to be quiet flexible, independent and aspiring as a person trait however management is a more detailed, inflexible, analytical, and implementation process of organization goals. ( Capowski, 1994)

        Management involves planning, developing and setting timelines for the establishment of organization visions i.e. the management group at Wal-Mart ; leadership develops the vision and puts in place the process for its achievement i.e. political leaders.

        Management  focuses on systems and structure within the organization and how they can be best placed and used to the achievement of a its goals i.e. the Military; leadership focuses on people and how they may be utilized and inspired to give their best towards the accomplishment of the leaders’ goal i.e. most religious organization rely on their leaders in terms of rallying of funds.

        Management focuses and relies heavily on control to execute and achieve results and success within the organization. Placement of boundaries and the consequences for breach; leadership encourages trust within the individual, energizing and motivating them to overcome their challenges in order to achieve goals.

        Leaders have a role and function to play both in the organization and within the society which include;

1. Inspire and motivate people;
2. Develop a vision based on shared values and principles;
3. Monitor and encourage the best out of people;
4. Encourage and emphasize on group decision making and participation;
5. Build a team based on trust and cooperation and lead them;
6. Listen, support and empower individuals within their group.

        Management roles and functions within an organization may be defined as explained by Dr. Henry Minzberg through;

1. Interpersonal roles; may be directly linked management and its position in the organization, with an emphasis in the development and maintaining of relationship with others
2. Informational role; management is the nerve centre receiving, translating, storing and disseminating information
3. Decisional role; they develop, allocate resource, negotiate and take any action needed to correct challenges facing a company.

        Leadership and management roles and functions roles overlap from time to time. In certain situations leaders are required to act as managers and managers may be required to act as leaders, i.e. to inspire and motivate employees’ in order to excel and fulfill the set goals.

        It’s noteworthy that the main differences is that leadership roles and functions involve a more personal involvement and aligning people to achieve a certain goal, whereas management is very impersonal encouraging order and consistency through a process of planning, challenge solving among others.