- Are you getting promoted to a new role?
- Are you trying to figure what kind of a manager you want to be?
You don’t just become a leader one day; there are stages you’ll go through and skills you’ll have to gain before you get onto the path of becoming a leader. Moreover, there are significant distinctions between managing and leading people.
From an outsider’s perspective, there may not be a lot of difference between a leader and a manager; both are responsible for overseeing the daily operations and managing a team. However, ask the employees, the team members, and the senior management; they’ll have plenty to say about it.
The best leadership certifications can paint a clear picture for you, but let’s give you a kickstart with this guide.
- Leaders Create a Vision, Managers Lay Down Goals
Leaders inspire and engage. They create a vision and turn it into reality. They think beyond what normal individuals do. Leaders motivate people to be a part of something bigger. They know that high-functioning and engaged teams can accomplish a lot more than individuals working autonomously.
On the other hand, managers focus on laying down measurable goals for the team and pushing them to achieve those goals. They don’t focus on engaging or motivating their team members, rather focus on getting the work done.
- Leaders are Change Agents; Managers Simply Maintain the Status Quo
Honestly, nobody likes a leader in the beginning. Yes, that’s true; leaders are proud disrupters. Everywhere they go, they take down the entire management system if things are not working, and there could be a better way forward. They throw the current parameters and processes out the window and start from scratch. Leaders are the agents of change.
Contrarily, managers stick with what works, refine existing systems, structures, and processes to make them more efficient.
If you aspire to become a great leader, one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way, sign up only for the best leadership certifications. One such reliable certification is the strategic management and leadership course XLRI. Offered in collaboration with Talentedge, this course can not only help you become a leader but a strategic leader who can empower people to follow.
- Leaders have a Unique Style, Managers Copy
Let’s be clear, both leaders and managers are good cops; both are focused on achieving organisational goals. The only difference is in their approach. Leaders believe in doing what no one else is doing but know that it can make things better and transparent.
On the other hand, managers try to fix what they already know by copying what they know will work. Instead of defining their leadership style, they adopt someone else’s.
If you are striving to learn about the major aspects of management and leadership, consider enrolling in the strategic management and leadership course XLRI. This course, offered on the Talentedge platform, boasts an extensive curriculum and market-ready content that can help you understand the intricacies of being a leader and a manager.
- Leaders Take Risks, Managers Believe in Controlling Risk
Leaders are always enthusiastic about trying new things, even if they may fail miserably. They know that every failure is a step forward to success. Leaders don’t shy away from a problem; they run towards it and fight back with full force.
Managers work to mitigate the risk. Their aim is to avoid or control problems rather than embracing them.
For instance, if a new trend is emerging in the business domain, managers will try and deflect it as much as possible or try to mitigate the impact. On the other hand, leaders will try and find out everything they can about that trend, how it is impacting their organisation, and whether it can be adopted for efficiency or enhancement.
- Leaders are in it for the Distant Future; Managers Think Short-term
Another major difference between a leader and a manager is that leaders focus on the long-term vision of the company. In contrast, managers emphasise on short-term goals of the project or process.
Leaders stay motivated to a distant goal. Contrarily, managers seek more regular acknowledgement for achieving short-term goals.
Are you interested in strategic management? Want to know about the steps involved in strategic management, its practical application, and scope? Scout the internet for the best leadership certifications online and enrol in a credible one.
- Leaders Grow their Team; Managers Focus on Their and the Organisation’s Growth
Leaders focus on their people; they focus on what they can do to make their lives easier, whether it is in terms of flexibility, workload, personal life, or any other thing that helps keep the team engaged.
On the other hand, a manager focuses on getting the job done, no matter how much time it takes or how many hours the team has to work overtime. This strategy can prove to be a winner in high-pressure situations or when a project’s deadline is near. However, it can prove to be a disaster on a regular basis because no one will be willing to work in an all-time high-pressure work environment.
Bottom Line
Leaders become great not because of their power and authority but because of their ability to empower others.
However, managers merely have employees who follow direction and seek to please the boss.
So are you a leader or manager?
Well, if you decide to become a leader, lead with influence and not authority.
A credible leadership management course can come in handy if you want to become an empowering leader. An online leadership management course can acquaint you with every facet of being a strategic leader, one who can harness the power of strategic management for effective decision making. The strategic management and leadership course XLRI is one such course. By providing exposure to all relevant frameworks in strategy, including theoretical perspectives, the process of resource analysis, management, and acquisition, this course from XLRI aims to provide a comprehensive education.
What are you waiting for? Enrol in the strategic management and leadership course XLRI and become an influencer, a change agent, and a leader your team can trust.