In order to be successful in business you must be a leader. However, many people think they are being leaders, when in reality they are being managers. So how do you tell the difference between a leader and a manager? Well to make things simpler, it’s in the titles. Leaders lead, while Managers manage.
What it means to be a leader
Being a leader means you are the one establishing a direction for the business. You are the one developing ideas for others to follow. You are the one who motivates others to act, instead of making them act. You are the one responsible for bringing a team together and aligning them in productive ways that will help the business.
What it means to be a manager
A manager is responsible for making a plan go smoothly. They are incharge of budgeting and planning. They organize people and are responsible for staffing, and control minute details of a project.
So what’s the difference?
You might be looking at these two descriptions and are wondering “so what’s the difference?” I might seem miniscule, but in the realm of business the difference is huge. Managers make people act, while Leaders make people want to act.
This subtle difference is incredibly crucial in the world of business. A good leader is able to galvanize employees to work, and makes them motivated to keep improving and upgrading their skills. They take the effort to make sure the absolute best is being put into the job. By being a leader, it means that you do not need to constantly micromanage employees to make sure things are getting done. Where as a manager must constantly keep tabs on their underlings to make sure work is being done, a good leader is capable of knowing work is being done with minimal involvement.
That is not to say leaders and managers have no overlap. While a leader might possess management skills, a manager typically will not have leadership skills, because they believe that management is leadership.
This confusion can stunt a businesses growth, and can demoralize employees. A leader needs to take the initiative to make their team enthusiastic and self sufficient when it comes to setting out on a course. That is what makes businesses successful; great leaders.
