Managers plan, organize and direct work to ensure daily operations run smoothly. Managers must solved budgetary issues for economic equilibrium and provide justifications and recommendations for any shortfalls. They constantly look for ways to maximize efficiencies; thusly they are results oriented and set standards for long term expectations even as they go about the day-to-day operations.

Leaders are visionaries. They create the environment for the organization. If the morale is high or low, it's usually the tone the leader sets. Leaders are innovative and want to see the organization constantly moving forward through creative pursuits externally or internally; they are risk takers and are not afraid to shake up the status quo.

Managers must ensure employees are performing at or above expectations. Therefore, two of their basic functions are to track and control. They must also assist in hiring new staffs and other job-related tasks.

Leaders motivate those in their charge, they stir up their creative juices, and they stimulate them to want to do things differently.

Managers must cope with daily obstacles and complexities inherent in the work place. Much of their time is spent reasoning or figuring out why things happened, how they happened, or when will they happen? Being a manager means being able to prognosticate or forecast what will happen in the future based on trend analyses, etc.

Leaders are constantly searching for new resources, including financial, and creating mandates under which the organization conducts itself.

Managers are constantly reviewing the makeup or the structure for employees lacking the ability to connect the dots and assisting them in reaching the goals and objectives of the organization, but in ways that recognizes diversity and minimizes risks.

Leaders are responsible for the outcomes, as they set the mission and if things do not go as expected, they redirect the course and start anew.

Managers are systems-based, rules-oriented mavens in the organization. Their knowledge of the organization are usual encyclopedic for those above them as well as those in their charge.

Leaders are charismatic and are not afraid to speak their views and offer ways for effectuation of new ideas. Great leaders make things happen by the sheer force of their personality and drive.

Managers and leaders roles are decidedly different. Anyone with a desire to do an excellent job can become a manager, but one does not simply become a leader. Leadership skills is something inherent in the individual, it is an amorphous, indescribable quality only a few possess. You will know a leader when you see or hear one, because you will not be able to forget his or her communication skills or their ability to lead and inspire you.

Learn more about this author, Dossie M Terrell.
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