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There are significant differences between a manager and a leader. As a management development trainer, there are many courses using the title of manager for both managers and leaders. Why? All leaders are also managers but all managers are not leaders but can be guided through training to be effective managers. Here, I will distinguish several differences in management vs leadership. These differences are as follows:

* A manager operates in the present for the present; a leader functions in the present to create a future. Supervisors and middle managers are paid and rewarded on bottom line results based on the results in the last quarter on what was accomplished during that time period. Management development training in such areas as project management, time management, communications and people problem solving skills can be taught to enhance their chances for success. Effective leaders are also held accountable for bottom line quarterly success but they are also creating through their vision how the organization will succeed ten to fifteen years from now, Other than teaching these leaders how to communicate their vision through business presentation skills, there is no training that effectively teaches the creation of vision. The idea of vision can be cultivated by a current mentor who is a leader or through the execution of sound judgment. Did you ever hear of a training workshop on judgment?

* The manager executes; the leader delegates. Conversely, the manager executes by virtue of what the leader delegates. And the manager is in the position to delegate because of their vision and judgment. The leader also delegates to allow his current managers the to gain meaningful experience to expand their comfort zone that allows for the cultivation of vision and sound judgment.

* The manager is a team player; the leader creates the team. As an effective team player, the manager puts the ego aside and executes for the benefit of the organization. They exhibit the qualities of respect to colleagues and associates as well as collaboration and cooperation. The leader assesses who will be the best team players and places the appropriate person in the capacity that maximizes the talent that ultimately benefits the bottom line of the organization.

Finally, for manager there is a textbook that does not provides guidelines in arriving at the right course of action. With effective leadership, there is the textbook of wisdom. insight , sound judgment, strong communication, and most importantly the building of trust by the practice of integrity!

Learn more about this author, Joseph Wardy.
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