What is the difference between a Manager and a Leader?

Adapted with license from several sources including the Wall Street Journal and Warren Bennis' "On Becoming a Leader" 1989.

I am in the process of choosing my next leadership challenge.......read: I am looking for a job. In the last 6 weeks during the interviewing process, I have often been asked, "What type of Manager are you?" A fair question, as most of the roles I have been applying for, carry a title ending with that word.

It has probably been one of the most important skill sets a recruiter was looking for in the traditional resources, manufacturing and services context of the late 20th century. The 21st century economy however is very much an information one, look at the positions vacant sections of your favourite job board if you doubt me.

When I was first asked the question, I admit I stumbled, and to the interviewer this probably created a belief that in providing my response I was making it up as I went along. They were not far from the truth. Primarily though, hand on heart, it was because I have never thought of myself as a manager of assets but as a leader of people.

It did however reignite a subject that has been a passion of mine since I entered the marketing field eight years ago. I came from a public service back ground which was dominated by bureaucracy and managers afraid to speak out for fear of losing position. Any original idea was duly stamped, filed and launched into the black hole affectionately known as "senior management".

So when I entered the private sector it was with a view to finding a productive environment where people were both valued and rewarded for effort. I was lucky enough to be employed by then Hewitt Employer of the year for three years running Salesforce. Australia's largest direct marketing and call centre company at the time. It was headed at the time by the inspirational Kevin Panozza, a man who understood that his most valuable asset was his people. His success was built upon their efforts and encapsulated in his corporate motto Fun, Focus and Fulfilment. My first real interaction with a Leader and influencer. I encourage you to search Kevin on YouTube or Google for his philosophies and employee and customer engagement.

What is the difference between a Manager and a Leader? Which gets results? Which is better? By way of disclosure, I consider myself a Leader with Management capability. So you can see why the first interviewer's question may have stymied an immediate response. This has been an ongoing debate for the best part of 10 decades and many a dissertation has been made on the topic. I thought it worth revisiting the subject in todays's blog for two important reasons. One, the global economy is in the process of shifting from traditional sectors to those dominated by the ICT and secondary information services. Two, the crowding of this space is requiring companies and their managers to become leaders, to increase profit and margins not through efficiency frameworks but by increasing productivity via effective leadership. An engaged employee is a productive and fulfilled one. A companies culture is as much on display as the employees CV.

The manager administers, The Leader innovates

The manager is a copy, The Leader is an original

The manager maintains, The Leader develops

The manager focuses on systems and structure, The Leader focuses on people

The manager relies on control, The Leader inspires trust

The manager has a short range view, The Leader has long range perspective

The manager asks how and when, The Leader asks what and why

The manager has their eye on the bottom line, The Leader has their eye on the horizon

The manager imitates, The Leader originates

The manager accepts the status quo, The Leader challenges it

The manager is a good soldier, The Leader is their own person

The manager does things right, The Leader does the right thing

Perhaps there was a time when the manager and their calling could be separated from the Avant Garde approach of Leaders. That is no longer the case, in the new economy where the value comes from the people and their knowledge the role of a Leader is paramount. In crowded spaces it will be the inspiration and guidance of a leader that pulls your people above the pack. The late management guru Peter Drucker wrote “The task is to lead people. And the goal is to make productive the specific strengths and knowledge of every individual”. In essence, people look to their managers, not to assign them a task, but to define for them a purpose and inspire results.

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