Difference Between Leadership and Management, Essay Example

In a nutshell, leadership sets a different direction for a team or a group, while management concerns controlling, directing, and organizing following a number of set principles. The difference between management and leadership can be possibly demonstrated by reflecting on what happens when you leadership without management and vice versa.

“Leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that they follow,” (Leadership and Management). In other words, a leader is a leading light for the whole organization or group and strives for that new course. Leadership without management sets up a path or idea that others are meant to stick to, without thinking how the new objective is going to be realized and achieved. Later on, other people have to burn the midnight oil to make it work. On the other hand, management without leadership is in charge of controlling resources to preserve the status quo and make sure objectives and goals are achieved following an already-established plan. In essence, management combined with leadership performs both tasks: sets an innovative direction and directs and controls the resources to achieve it.

To conclude, in the contemporary world of fierce competition both management and leadership are essential tools of any business. While managers react, control, and coordinate, leaders create, seek, motivate, and inspire. The business atmosphere is full of challenges and “You cannot address these new challenges with more of the same management solutions – successful change requires leadership” (Kotelnikov).

Works Cited

Leadership versus Management. 15 May 2001. 14 July 2009. <http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/leadership_main.html>

Leadership and Management. 14 July 2009. <http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/leadership-basics.html>