People often confuse or inter-change the terms Leader and Manager. What is the difference between management and leadership? The most basic distinction is that Leaders lead people and Managers manage tasks. This is not to imply that Managers do not have subordinates. The biggest difference between Managers and Leaders is the way they motivate the people who work or follow them, and this sets the tone for most other aspects of what they do.
Leaders typically have 5 important characteristics – Character, Team Builder, Decisive, Passionate, and Visionary.
Character
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865)
Team Builder
Yogi Berra (1925 – ), “When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It” — Ch. 3
Decisive
Lee Iacocca (1924 – )
Passionate
George Washington Carver (1864 – 1943)
Vision
Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.
Henry Miller (1891 – 1980)
Although there are many people who are both Managers and Leaders, there are also many Managers who do not possess the Leadership traits or characteristics. They have management jobs, but they realize that they cannot buy the hearts of their employees – especially to follow them down a difficult path.
The employees passionately follow their Leader (even down a difficult path) with the confidence that he/she will lead them to success. The Leader by definition will always put the well-being of their team before themselves but as a result, maintain their loyalty and commitment.
Husband, father, coffee connoisseur and lover of all things hockey. At 51 I sometimes wonder have I done enough. I have been married to my best friend for 30 years. She knows all my faults and loves me anyway, As a father of “almost always” perfect boys, I am always surprised at what life has to offer. It is messy, scary, thrilling, and always fun.
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