Leadership and Management – Is There a Difference?
What’s the difference between leadership and management? Both are essential to successful businesses, but many organizations are over-managed and under-led. It has been said “You manage cows, but you lead people.” Budgets and schedules, while easy to measure and track, do not occupy the center of a great leader’s attention. Leadership is far different from management, and just as important. According to HBS’s Kotter, managers plan, budget, organize, staff, control and correct, while leaders set direction, align people, motivate and inspire. Many people occupy the position of leadership without demonstrating the qualities of leadership. This module explores the difference between leadership and management and how they complement one another. The very best business leaders combine both leadership and management to deliver extraordinary results.