Leadership and Management

Leadership versus Management : There has been a history of treating the terms leadership and
management as synonymous. Are they the same? Are there differences? Respond with research-based
studies.

In business, leadership and management play an integral part in everyday success.

These terms are often used interchangeably in meaning and application. However, this is simply not the
case. By definition and in practice, leadership and management are different functions requiring
different skill sets. In short, managers have subordinates, while leaders have followers.

Examine the difference in descriptors between management and leadership:

• Managers administer. They ask how and when, focus on the system, maintain, rely on
control, have a short-term perspective, accept the status-quo, imitate, and copy.
• Leaders innovate. They ask what and why, focus on people, develop, inspire trust, have
long-term perspective, challenge the status quo, originate, and show originality.
References
Reynolds, J., & Warfield, W. (2010). Discerning the Differences Between Managers and
Leaders. Education Digest, 75(7), 61-64. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.