Leadership
What is the Difference Between Leadership and Management?
The discussion between the differences of leadership and management has fuelled an ongoing heated debate. In acknowledging the vast differences between leadership and management, the aim of this essay is thus to illustrate these differences whilst displaying that they overlap. I will also explore the effects of their functions on organizations and explain that a combination of elements from both leadership and management is the most productive way in dealing with subordinates. According to Bennis, “There is a profound difference between management and leadership, and both are important. To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of or responsibility for, to conduct. Leadership is influencing, guiding in a direction, course, action, opinion. The distinction is crucial.” (Bennis, 2010) It is from this, leadership and management can easily be seen as both vital and complementary. Unique in nature, leadership and management continue to remain two indispensible techniques of actions in any environment. In order to be able to differentiate between leadership and management, definitions with in endemic framework will need to be settled upon.
Leadership is a fluid concept, multiple in its dimensions, and as such, is a subject that is difficult to define. In order to achieve clarity however, for the purposes of this essay, leadership will be defined as “...a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.” (Northhouse, 2010, pp. 3). It is, as Northouse states, “...a highly sought-after and highly valued commodity” (Northhouse, 2010, pp. 1), and has consequently come under fierce academic scrutiny from those who seek to identify the quintessential essence of the subject. The profound influence of leadership can be evidenced from the numerous social, military, sporting and business achievements, which have resulted throughout history as an
The discussion between the differences of leadership and management has fuelled an ongoing heated debate. In acknowledging the vast differences between leadership and management, the aim of this essay is thus to illustrate these differences whilst displaying that they overlap. I will also explore the effects of their functions on organizations and explain that a combination of elements from both leadership and management is the most productive way in dealing with subordinates. According to Bennis, “There is a profound difference between management and leadership, and both are important. To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of or responsibility for, to conduct. Leadership is influencing, guiding in a direction, course, action, opinion. The distinction is crucial.” (Bennis, 2010) It is from this, leadership and management can easily be seen as both vital and complementary. Unique in nature, leadership and management continue to remain two indispensible techniques of actions in any environment. In order to be able to differentiate between leadership and management, definitions with in endemic framework will need to be settled upon.
Leadership is a fluid concept, multiple in its dimensions, and as such, is a subject that is difficult to define. In order to achieve clarity however, for the purposes of this essay, leadership will be defined as “...a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.” (Northhouse, 2010, pp. 3). It is, as Northouse states, “...a highly sought-after and highly valued commodity” (Northhouse, 2010, pp. 1), and has consequently come under fierce academic scrutiny from those who seek to identify the quintessential essence of the subject. The profound influence of leadership can be evidenced from the numerous social, military, sporting and business achievements, which have resulted throughout history as an