Management and Leadership

Management and leadership

The world of business today requires individuals to be well-versed in both management and leadership strategies however, some managers do not necessarily make good leaders and vice versa. This is why it is imperative for individuals to understand the differences between management and leadership and to apply these particular strategies to the appropriate situations.

Primarily, those with the designation of manager are required to do just that; manage the individuals who are subordinate to them within the organization. This requires daily responsibilities such as the delegation of duties and tasks, making sure those duties are carried out in the most efficient and effective manner and dealing with questions and unforeseen situations which may arise throughout the course of the work day. Managers most oftentimes implement an authoritarian approach in regards to their employees due to the fact that workers are expected to do as they are told in order to receive compensation for their efforts. Managers are of course paid for their efforts as well so they need to make sure their work as well as the work of their employees meets the standards of upper management.

Anyone can be a leader. An employee does not have to have an upper management job in order to possess or utilize leadership qualities. Individuals cannot be leaders if they do not have followers and because of this a good leader should not adopt a transactional or authoritarian leadership style because telling others what to do and when to do it is off-putting when it is done by workers who are not in a position of authority. Making suggestions and asking for the opinions of others is the most effectual way to gain their respect and subsequently; they will follow. Charismatic leaders normally employ a transformational approach instead of the transactional approach used by managers. Managers tell others what to do, they do it, and they get paid i.e. transactional. Effective leaders...