Leaders versus Managers

"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." ~ Peter F. Drucker

When I teach leadership courses, one of the first questions to come up is what is the difference between leaders and managers? Aren't the two terms interchangeable? The answer is no, the terms are NOT interchangeable. A leader can also be a manager, and a manager can be a leader, but they have two distinct and separate tasks.

A manager manages things: projects, resources, finances. As the above quote states: Doing things right. A leader, on the other hand, leads people. People are not managed, they are led. Leadership is about creating opportunities for the team, about providing inspiration and choices -- to people. Management is about making things happen.

Leadership is about getting people to abandon their old habits and guiding them in achieving new things; first setting the example. A leader is not afraid to get out in the trenches with the people and try something new. True leadership is about being a leader and a manager; being able to lead people while making the right things happen with and for them.

Check your leadership style. Are you leading your people or trying to manage them?

To lead is to serve,

Coach Carolyn