Leadership
Abstract
Some people tend to use ‘manager’ and ‘leader’ synonymously but it is important to understand that these two terms are very different. Leaders have followers while managers have subordinates. Leaders pursue the vision of the business while managers seek to achieve goals. In addition, there are different forms of leaders. Some are problem solvers, others are visionaries, while others are team builders. Each of these leaders play a crucial role in the success of companies. This paper reviews the differences between leaders and managers, and providing a better understanding of the three types of leaders.
Introduction
Leaders play a crucial role in the success of an organization. Employees must deal with these leaders every day in the workplace. Therefore, the workers need to understand the kind of leaders they have at any time. Understanding the characteristics of these leaders makes it possible for the employees to know how to behave around them, how to treat them, and what to avoid. This paper provides the differences between a leader and manager and examines the characteristics of leaders as visionaries, problem-solvers, and team builders.
Leader vs. Manager
Many people often confuse leaders with managers. However, there is a range of differences between the two. A leader is a person who leads a team, or rather, has followers. On the other hand, a manager has people who work under him/her (subordinates) (Popovici, 2012). Leaders are keen on complementing even the slighted progress or achievement by the followers. They inspire people to achieve the vision of the company. Leaders often employ a motivational approach to their employees. They discuss issues and enable the followers to implement the best ideas. This makes it possible to achieve the desired change in the organization. Leaders coach their followers to maximize their potential and build strong relationships with the stakeholders (Popovici, 2012).
On the other hand, managers are focused on giving directions to achieve the set goals. They usually adopt an authoritarian style when dealing with their subordinates. They dictate what has to be done and exercise high power over the workers. Managers formulate and implement what they perceive to be good ideas and strive to become heroes in the company (Allen, 2018). Instead of building relationships, managers establish systems and processes. They are concerned about the structures needed to achieve the set goals. Unlike leaders who gradually grow to become better versions of themselves, managers depend on existing, proven skills. They perfect their skills and adopt behaviors that are proven to lead to success (Allen, 2018).
Application in the Work Environment
In my opinion, the most interesting parts in the study of leadership were: understanding how leadership relates to management and learning the diverse nature of leaders. I intend to use this information in the workplace to understand the behavior of some leaders or why they make certain decisions. A good understanding of leaders will help me know how to behave around different people. Also, the information obtained in class will help me identify the kind of leader I am and identify ways of maximizing my potential for the betterment of organizations.
The Leader as a Visionary
A visionary leader focuses on the future. He/she foresees the future of the company and finds ways of ensuring that the vision is fulfilled. Visionary leaders are passionate about their work and persistently work to meet the organization’s long-term goals (Dhammika, 2016). These individuals recognize the need to balance between vision and action. This is because; it is difficult to achieve the vision without taking the necessary measures. The leaders outline the vision and encourage the followers to support the realization of this vision. For example, a leader may choose to provide incentives to the employees to motivate them to exploit their potential. It is also helpful to create a work environment that promotes creativity. Visionary leaders do not exert excessive control over the employees or prevent them from expressing themselves (Dhammika, 2016). These individuals also exhibit high levels of discipline as they consistently work towards the vision of the organization.
Further, visionary leaders are usually open-minded, emotionally intelligent, collaborative, and optimistic. This means that they are willing to embrace new ideas that would help fulfill the vision of the company. They commit fully to this process and are strong enough to deal with the challenges that arise. Once various people have assessed the situation and identified possible outcomes, the leader can locate a viable solution and lead the implementation process.
The Leader as a Problem-Solver
Problems are inevitable in all organizations. While some people may shy away from difficulties, effective leaders view challenges as opportunities for future improvements. An effective leader faces the problems and finds solutions, even when the answers do not seem to be forthcoming (Diatrofologos, 2018). Such leaders understand that they do not have to bear the burden on their own; hence, are willing to delegate responsibilities and listen to the views of employees and others stakeholders. A leader, as a problem-solver, can follow a series of steps to find a solution to the existing challenges. These include assessing the situation, envisioning the outcomes, and delegating authority (Diatrofologos, 2018). The leader asks questions and engages in dialogue to identify the best way of dealing with the issue. Any excess tasks are delegated to persons with the necessary skills. Sometimes, organizations may face complicated problems; hence, the leader must exert command over the issue. Overall, a leader as a problem-solver takes charge of the problem, calls the right people, and supports them to find a suitable solution.
The Leader as a Team-Builder
Team building is essential for the success of an organization. Building a strong team motivates employees, enhances creativity, and improves communication within the company (Fapohunda, 2013). A leader, as a teambuilder, recognizes that the human component of the business is important in the achievement of the set goals. This leader must find ways of balancing the responsibility to promote the achievement of the company’s vision with the need to inspire, engage, and enhance the commitment of the team (Burns, 2018). Leaders who are dedicated to team building understand that building a committed workforce is essential for creating future value for the company. These individuals consider themselves to be a resource for the team rather than merely being the drivers. They see the potential in the existing talent and believe that there is room for growth. Also, leaders who are good team builders exhibit high levels of flexibility (Burns, 2018). They are not limited to the confinements of their own ideas; rather, they strive to view issues from other people’s perspectives.
Summary
Leaders differ from managers in various ways. Persons in leadership focus on the vision of the company and motivate their followers to work towards it. Leaders are willing to engage the followers to find the best ways of handling business issues. On the other hand, managers are focused on the completion of tasks to achieve the set goals. They build systems and processes rather than focusing on interpersonal relations. Despite these differences, both managers and leaders are important for the success of companies. A leader can be a team builder, a problem solver, or a visionary. A visionary strives to lead the team to achieve the bigger vision of the organization; a team builder builds strong relationships with employees, and a problem solver is keen on finding solutions when the organization is in a crisis. Each of these leaders is of value to the business.
References
Popovici, V. (2012). Similarities and differences between management and leadership. Annals – Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, 2, 126-135. Retrieved from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cbu/jrnlec/y2012v2p126-135.html
Dhammika, K. A. S. (2016). Visionary leadership and organizational commitment: the mediating effect of Leader Member Exchange (LMX). Wayamba Journal of Management, 4(1), 1-10. doi:10.4038/wjm.v4i1.7452/
Fapohunda, T. (2013). Towards effective team building in the workplace. International Journal of Education Research, 1(4), 1-12. Retrieved from https://ijern.com/images/April-2013/23.pdf
Burns, W. (2018). Leaders as team builders. Retrieved from https://rbl.net/insights/articles/leaders-as-team-builders
Allen, T. (2018, Oct. 9). What is the difference between management and leadership? Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/terinaallen/2018/10/09/what-is-the-difference-between-management-and-leadership/#6df9f6ff74d6
