Managing Versus Leading – The Ultimate Entrepreneur Battle 

What is the difference between a leader and a manager? In many groups, this is a commonly posed question, and it has been replied to in so many various ways. 

We all want to believe that we have natural leadership traits, but leadership is not something you already ‘have’ – you need to practice over time to develop your ability. So, what is the main contrast between a leader and a manager? 

In this blog, we’ll discuss the difference between a leader and a manager and how you can enhance the productivity of your employees and build a successful business empire. 

The Difference Between A Leader & A Manager 

The critical distinction between becoming a leader and a manager is that leaders are lead groups, whereas managers have employees working under them. 

Three fields are responsible for a great deal of this; inspiration, vision and connectivity. 

There are individuals in every company or social environment that other people tend to gravitate toward. These individuals tend to have healthy inspiration, a simple and optimistic outlook and connect very well with other members. These dynamic personalities are ‘born to lead.’ 

These leadership instances don’t only exist in a corporate setting; they may be on the football ground, or in a not-for-profit group, the local interest club. 

You might have heard a famous quotation earlier about the contrast between manager and leader;

“Managers have employees, leaders have followers.” 

Experts believe that leaders with brilliant abilities are those who not only have a vision; they aspire to accomplish it.

Leaders have engaging qualities, be regularly optimistic and concentrate on ensuring that the people around them appreciate and support the idea. 

Whereas, managers tend to have a fantasy, then advise people to either agree or get out of it. 

However, a strong manager still has leadership qualities. Within the general priorities of the company, they can develop a mission and enable workers to work collectively as a team to achieve the end goal. 

Interestingly, while excellent managers have leadership qualities, this does not mean that all managers are great leaders. I’m sure you’ve experienced this yourself; a partner who most likely impresses everyone, even their immediate management, rather than the other way around. 

You can be a manager as well as a leader, and you can be one or the other. You strive on short-term priorities and priorities while you are in ‘management mode.’

When you imagine a view of the world in ‘leadership mode,’ and set out the groundwork to influence others to join you in moving into the world. 

Only look at the initial meanings of words manage and lead in English; 

• To manage means to handle, which means a high degree of direct engagement.
• Lead means going before, planning the route. 

In an organization’s day-to-day affairs, managers supervise workers, while leaders drive change within companies and motivate others to success.

Bill Murphy Jr discusses seven gaps between leaders and managers that he sees. These are; 

1. A great leader combines significant priorities with everyday tasks. A manager cares mainly about short-term goals. 
2. A successful leader speaks of individuals as individuals. A single boss uses only descriptions or organizational tables. 
3. A leader strives to win the respect of their subordinates. A manager demands to be respected. 
4. When teammates do amazing things, a true leader is delighted. A manager is endangered, on the other hand. 
5. With integrity and accountability, a strong leader empowers individuals. As if it costs him directly, mere managers give limited information. 
6. A strong leader knows that he is accountable if the team falls short. A manager blames their team when trouble comes. 
7. A successful leader thinks mostly for consequences. A mere boss is more concerned with the process. 

No matter what aspects of personality you believe make the distinction between a leader and a manager, we all prefer to aspire to become a leader. 

Hence, without a doubt, it’s best to aspire to be a leader instead of a manager. You should work towards becoming a leader who has a vision and knows the path to accomplishing the vision. Moreover, you should be a leader who doesn’t just want to grow, but instead pushes people around you to grow and succeed as well. 

Also read – 6 Leadership Qualities To Learn From Narendra Modi

Key Features That Separates Leaders From Managers 

Now that you’ve understood why it’s better to be a leader instead of a manager, let’s understand the key differences that you need to adopt in order to be a successful leader: 

• Honesty & integrity: it is vital to make your people trust you and buy into the path you take them on. 
• Idea: know wherever you are, where you want to go and register your team to map a way to the future 
• Inspiration: empower the staff to be what they can by ensuring that they recognize their position in the broader picture. 
• Risk-taker: do not be afraid to challenge the status quo, do it differently and have the confidence to move beyond the box. 
• Communication skills: keep your team aware of the journey, where you are, where you are going, and share any roadblocks you may find along the way. 

5 Ways To Become A Leader, Not A Manager

Jennifer Hill is quoted in a post about leadership skills, titled 5 Ways to Be a Leader, Not a Manager, as saying that a leader has five distinct qualities, which are; 

1. Talk less and listen instead. 
2. The consensus is excellent, but the action is generated by guidance and decisiveness. 
3. Anybody can find an issue. Half of the answer lies in communication. 
4. Don’t fall hide your fears or your victories 
5. Address your problems head-on. 

You don’t immediately become a leader when you are recruited into a position where you are leading people. In handling and coaching staff, there are essential differences.

The nine of the most noticeable distinctions that make leaders distinct

1. Leaders create a dream; management creates strategies

Leaders paint the picture of what they can see is possibilities and transform the vision into action and encourage and motivate their people. They look about what is achieved by people. They inspire individuals to be part of something larger. They realize that high-functioning teams can do a lot of work together than people who work independently. Managers rely on setting goals, monitoring and meeting them. To achieve or meet their targets, they monitor conditions. 

2. Leaders are drivers of innovation, and managers uphold the status quo 

Proud disruptors are leaders. Their motto is progress. They welcome progress and realize that there might be a new path forward, even though things are booming. And they recognize and embrace the idea that modifications to the mechanism always generate waves. To make everything healthier, administrators stick with what functions, updating programs, procedures and processes.

3. Leaders are distinctive, managers copy 

Leaders are equipped to be themselves. They are self-aware and consciously work to create their brand that is distinctive and unique. In their own shoes, they are relaxed and ready to stand out. Authentic and transparent, they are. Managers emulate the skills and habits they acquire from others and follow their style of leadership rather than identifying it. 

4. Leaders take risk and are managers prefer comfort

Even if they can struggle miserably, leaders are eager to learn new stuff. They know that failure is always a phase on the road to success. To Mitigate Risk, managers work. Rather than welcoming them, they tend to eliminate or regulate issues. 

5. Leader are in it for the long run, managers focus on the short-term 

Intentionality has representatives. People do whatever they say they will do and remain driven against a broad, yet very distant target. Without earning daily benefits, they stay inspired. Managers focus on shorter-term targets, getting more regular recognition or accolades.

6. Leaders grow independently; managers rely on others 

Leaders know that every day they don’t discover anything different; they don’t stand. Still, they fall behind. In an ever-changing world of work, they remain fascinated and aim to stay critical. They are looking for information and evidence that would extend their analysis. Managers also double down on what makes them useful, perfecting current abilities and implementing validated habits. 

7. Leaders build partnerships, and managers develop structures and systems.

Leaders rely on individuals, all of the people they ought to affect to achieve their goal. They realize who their spouses are and devote much of their time with them. By continually keeping their commitments, they establish confidence and confidence. Managers reflect on the processes required for targets to be set and accomplished. They rely on analytics and guarantee that procedures are in a position to produce the expected performance. They connect with people and their interests and goals.

8. Leaders coach, managers dictate

Leaders know that those who work with them have the solutions or will discover them. They see their individuals as talented and are confident about their future. They fight the urge to say what to do and how to do it to their people. Managers delegate duties and offer instructions on how to complete them. 

9. Leaders build followers; managers have employees. 

Leaders have individuals that go beyond embracing them; their supporters become their raving fans and fervent advocates, helping them create their reputation and accomplish their objectives. Their followers help them boost their popularity and prestige. Managers include subordinates who follow orders and aim to impress the manager.

In Summary 

The distinction between the leader and a manager can be clearly defined for the following reasons: 

1. To accomplish a defined purpose, a leader guides their subordinates, while a manager is an employee who oversees the whole organization. 
2. A leader has the ability of foresight, whereas the intellect of a manager. 
3. A leader sets instructions, but a manager prepares specifics. 
4. A manager makes the decision when a leader facilitates it. 
5. A leader prevents disagreements. Conversely, a manager sees clashes as an advantage. 
6. A manager uses transactional leadership styles. As compared to this, the leader utilizes a transformational leadership approach. 
7. Leaders support reform, but managers adapt to the transformation. 
8. While a manager organizes staff, a leader aligns citizens.
9. A leader looks for the right decisions to be made. In comparison, the manager tries to do the right things. 
10. The leader works on people while a manager works on the process and method. 
11. A leader strives to improve and develop his teammates, while a manager seeks to achieve the result.

Being a manager does have its perks; but they are applicable only if you are an employee. As an entrepreneur, in order to build a successful business, you need to be a leader and not a manager! Only then will you be able to build an empire with loyal customers and employees!