LEADERS VS MANAGERS

A leader is one who influences the behavior and work of others in group efforts towards achievement of specified goals in a given situation. On the other hand, manager can be a true manager only if he/she has got traits of leader in him/her. Manager at all levels are expected to be the leaders of work groups so that subordinates willingly carry instructions and accept their guidance. A person can be a leader by virtue of all qualities in him/her.

Leader

A person becomes a leader on basis of his personal qualities.

The group of employees whom the leaders leads are his followers.

Leader influences people to work willingly for group objectives.

A leader is required to create cordial relation between person working in and for organization.

A leader’s concern is group goals and member’s satisfaction.

A leader can maintain his position only through day to day wishes of followers.

A leader has command over different sanctions and related task records. These sanctions are essentially of informal nature.

Manager

A person becomes a manager by virtue of his position.

The subordinates are the followers of managers.

A manager performs all five functions of management.

A manager is very essential to a concern.

A manager’s concern is organizational goals.

A manager can continue in office till he performs his duties satisfactorily in congruence with organizational goals.

Manager has command over allocation and distribution of sanctions.

A manager has to perform all five functions to achieve goals, i.e., Planning, Organising Staffing, Directing, and Controlling. Leadership is a part of these functions. Leadership as a general term is not related to managership. A person can be a leader by virtue of qualities in him/her. Therefore, it is true to say that, “All managers are leaders, but all leaders are not managers.”