Is it Better to be a Leader or a Manager? Why?

According to SHAHEDNEWS, Leadership and management aren’t in competition; both are important. I’m certain there’s no single right way to lead or manage since each business has its unique requirements.

Each employee works differently and is motivated in their own way, and every manager or leader has their own methods for handling responsibilities. Being a manager or a leader both have their benefits; just as people need management, they also need inspiration and leadership.

There are many effective managers who successfully facilitate projects, do their work, and fulfill their job as required. But what characteristics make leaders inspiring agents of change?

In this article, I’ll explain the key differences between management and leadership and explore how to leverage both to help your team achieve its goals.

As managers, a key part of our job is "managing." In my early career, I felt like I was balancing between managing and micro-managing. I needed to become an inspiring leader who could motivate the team to move forward. So, how can you ensure that you’re leading, not just managing, in your business? What actions should you take to make this happen?

What is the Difference Between Leadership and Management?

Before diving into the fundamentals, let’s clarify our understanding of management and leadership. What are their strengths? What are their roles? And what are the key differences between leadership and management?

The important point is that rarely in organizations do people hold a specific title as a "leader," and many people are not familiar with true leadership. However, there are numerous managers at different levels and in various teams across organizations.

Who is a Manager?

Management exists in every industry, and managers come with various job titles. But what is management, and what are the qualities of a good manager? What tasks should a manager handle?

As managers, we take on many responsibilities, including managing people and projects. In summary, we handle elements such as project scope, budget, timelines, and people — including teams, clients, and sometimes other managers. This holds true in any field.

For example, even in a completely different industry like culinary arts, there are commonalities. In that case, management might include the menu, kitchen, food, staff, chefs, food service, and occasionally customers.

Who is a Leader?

Although "leader" may not always be a formal role within a company, leaders possess certain qualities and traits. Leaders often guide groups of people or organizations.

What does leading a group require? Can only CEOs and department heads be leaders? Are people inherently leaders? What are the qualities of a good leader? What do leaders do? Don’t worry; the following questions will provide insight into leadership.

What is Leadership?

Honestly, writing this article was challenging because I believe that managers and leaders aren’t in opposition. So why compare them? It’s difficult to clearly define the differences between managers and leaders.

However, here are two points about leadership:

1. Some leaders are excellent at their tasks, completing work and projects effectively, ensuring tasks are completed productively. They may not be inspiring or classic "leaders," but they do their job well.

2. In business, you need leaders who can inspire the team and drive change. They may not focus on every detail, but the team enjoys working with them and grows towards a common goal. Leaders know how to manage a broken process and coach the team to resolve it.

When I asked my friends about the differences between managers and leaders, two common points emerged:

- Good managers need to know how to lead. They should recognize that they have authority over employees and shouldn’t see it as merely helping them with tasks.

- Leaders can be good leaders even if they’ve never managed. However, some managers shouldn’t be leaders because they can’t or don’t know how to lead.

From this, we can conclude that managers should also be good leaders.

In management, leadership is a critical component. Having a unique management style can be helpful, but additionally, leading the team is essential for enhancing projects and results.

Incorporating leadership qualities into management can motivate the team for greater impact. Tasks get done within the budget and on time, and people genuinely enjoy their work. For this to happen, we need happy employees and managers in the business.

Key Differences between Management and Leadership

1. Execution vs. Optimization

- Managers are skilled at execution. If there’s a particular project, they will implement it repeatedly until they complete it successfully with the team.

- Leaders often focus on improvement. For example, how can we enhance the process? How can we address errors to prevent them in the future?

2. Precision vs. Mentorship

- Managers need to be precise. A manager reviews your work, points out what’s unfinished, highlights errors in detail, and so forth. They benefit from this approach, checking tasks repeatedly.

- Mentorship is a quality of leaders. A good leader points out mistakes, explains why it’s essential to resolve them, and shows how to avoid them in the future. Essentially, a good leader grows alongside the team.

3. Striving for Success vs. Pursuing the Right Path to Success

- Managers strive for success, but leaders redefine it. They address current issues and move on, leaving the past behind.

4. Task-Oriented vs. Delegating Tasks

- Managers know how to turn goals into reality. They are often task-oriented and ensure tasks are completed fully. Leaders, however, are more flexible and trust the team to carry out tasks.

5. Practicality vs. Motivation

- Managers excel in practicality, setting deadlines, assigning roles, and monitoring the team’s progress. They understand how long tasks will take, making them well-acquainted with the team’s work style.

- Leaders, on the other hand, focus on motivating the team. Encouraging others to work effectively and make a difference is a leader’s trait. They set clear goals and enable the team to stay on track.

Conclusion

This article didn’t cover all the distinctions between managers and leaders, but I aimed to outline the key differences. While both roles have unique characteristics, optimizing and making changes help us shift from micro-management to providing the team with tools to fulfill their roles in their own way. Enhancing processes and ensuring adherence to new methods is a balanced combination of management and leadership. With these adjustments, the team understands what’s expected and when, resulting in less need for constant guidance.