Leadership vs. Management

MGT 424: Senior Seminar in Management Topics

Topic: Research report

Topic Name: Leadership vs. Management

Date: Week # 2 and 04/05/2012

Student Name: Michelle Trombetta

Summary of the current topic trends

This is the most debated topic in management research today, and yet there has not been any clarity in arriving at a conceptual distinction between these two styles at increasing number of organizations. Often organizations struggle to understand whether a given problem is to be handled by a Manager or a Leader, further so, there are situations wherein while establishing jobs to handle a group or team of people the recruiting authority is unsure about the nature of control to be exerted i.e. whether the recruited person should have management skills alone or leadership skills alone or is it a combination of both.

Analysis of trends

Leaders and Managers, although you may hear these two terms thrown out interchangeably, they are in fact two very different animals complete with different personalities and world views. By learning whether you are more of a leader or more of a manager, you will gain the insight and self-confidence that comes with knowing more about yourself. The result is greater impact and effectiveness when dealing with others and running your business.

Managers - emphasize rationality and control; are problem-solvers (focusing on goals, resources, organization structures, or people); often ask question, "What problems have to be solved, and what are the best ways to achieve results so that people will continue to contribute to this organization?"; are persistent, tough-minded, hardworking, intelligent, analytical, tolerant and have goodwill toward others.

Leaders - are perceived as brilliant, but sometimes lonely; achieve control of themselves before they try to control others; can visualize a purpose and generate value in work; are imaginative, passionate, non-conforming risk-takers.

Managers and leaders have very different...