What is the difference between leadership and management? It is a question that has been asked more than once and also answered in different ways. The biggest difference between leaders and managers is the way they motivate the people who work or follow them, and this sets the tone for most other aspects of what they do. Leaders manage and managers lead, but the two activities are not synonymous. Management functions can potentially provide leadership; leadership activities can contribute to managing. Nevertheless, some managers do not lead, and some leaders do not manage.

Here is leadership vs. management in a nutshell:

The manager administers; the leader innovates. The manager maintains; the leader develops. The manager accepts reality; the leader investigates it. The manager focuses on systems and structures; the leader focuses on people. The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust. The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective. The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why. The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader has his or her eye on the horizon. The manager imitates; the leader originates. The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it. The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.

Managers have subordinates; leaders have followers. Managers avert threats; leaders seize opportunities. Managers reduce weaknesses; leaders amplify strengths. Managers minimize the downside; leaders optimize the upside. Managers focus on the how; leaders focus on the what. Managers focus on the means; leaders focus on the ends. Managers calculate probabilities; leaders envision possibilities. Managers maintain consistency; leaders drive change.

As a conclusion, leadership and management, according to the old proverb, differ from one another in this way – Leadership is doing the right thing; management is doing things right.