Inspiration and Leadership

Lead and Manage in Business and Life

Are you a leader or a manager?

Do you know the difference between leading and managing? Unfortunately, many people and organizations incorrectly use the terms. Each word is distinct and is not interchangeable! There is a considerable difference between a leader and a manager. Let’s clarify the differences once and for all!

What is leading and managing

“Managers light a fire under people; leaders light a fire in people.” — Kathy Austin

Leading and managing serve specific purposes critical to business and life. There is no better way to point out the difference than by analogy.

If you chose to go somewhere quickly under your own power, would you use a unicycle or a bicycle? The unicycle would certainly get you there, but a bike is much easier and faster. Its two wheels work together and provide far greater results.

You can view the front wheel on the bicycle as leading and the back wheel as managing. Each depends on the other to move you along effectively and efficiently.

The front-wheel sets direction; the back wheel propels you forward. That, in a nutshell, is leading and managing. Leading is about direction, and managing is about getting the work done.

Let’s take a closer look at each term to clarify any remaining confusion.

Leadership

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” John C. Maxwell (1947-present)

Leadership is about direction. About where you are going in the future and the destination you wish to reach. A good leader regularly checks the course and corrects it when needed.

The definition of leadership is:

leadership (noun) — the action of leading a group of people or an organization. Oxford Languages

One of the best quotes of all time about leadership comes from the father of modern management, Peter Drucker. He said:

“Leadership is the lifting of a man’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a man’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a man’s personality beyond its normal limitations.” Peter Drucker (1909–2005)

Leading is clearly different from managing, yet each is vital to a well-run business or life.

Management

To manage is to be responsible for the results produced in what you are managing. Managing is vital to any organization if they are to stay in existence. Similarly, managing is an essential function of living a good life.

To effectively manage, good leadership qualities are a must. You will instantly recognize when you are leading and when you are managing. When you lead, you work ON the business or ON your life. When you manage, you work IN the business or IN your life.

The definition of management is:

Management (noun) — the process of dealing with or controlling things or people. Oxford Languages

Let’s again go to the father of modern management for his view of the term:

“Management is a multi-purpose organ that manages business and manages managers and manages workers and work.” — Peter Drucker (1909–2005)

To further clarify the difference between leadership and management, let’s look at how they compare.

Contrast Between Leadership and Management

Once more, the world’s foremost expert and father of modern management had this to say about management and leadership:

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” Peter Drucker (1909–2005)

The following statements contrast leading and managing. They are in no particular order.

• Leaders create — managers measure
• Leaders lead — managers execute
• Leaders use influence — managers use authority
• Leaders are about people — managers are about business
• Leaders guide — managers oversee
• Leaders motivate — managers plan
• Leaders ask what and why — managers ask how and when
• Leadership is about setting direction — management is about directing people and resources
• Leaders innovate — managers administer
• Leaders lead people — managers manage things
• Leaders take the long-range perspective — managers take the short-range view
• Leadership is about putting first things first — management is about discipline and carrying it out.
• Leaders are goal-oriented — managers are task-oriented
• Leaders lead and motivate people — managers are responsible for getting things done
• Leaders influence and inspire — managers control and direct
• You follow a leader — you take direction from a manager
• The best managers know when to lead — the best leaders know when to manage
• Leaders work on it — managers work in it
• Leaders challenge the status quo — managers follow it.

“ Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.” — Stephen Covey

Final thoughts

Leading and managing are complementary and necessary skills. Used together, they create wonderful things. This is as true for business as it is for life.

I challenge you to ask yourself these questions:

• How am I leading myself?
• How am I managing my life?

When you can answer these questions, you will accomplish far more in your life, your business, and the lives of others.

Why not do all you can to strive to become the leader in your life and manage it effectively! Imagine the possibilities!

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Bill Abbate Leadership Writer and Editor in ILLUMINATION

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