What Differentiates Leaders and Managers

What differentiates leaders and managers is a question that commonly arises during discussions of leadership. I have addressed some of these differences in previous blog postings. Following are additional thoughts on this question.

One key difference is that a manager's authority derives from the organization while a leader's authority comes from the followers. People do as a manager says because the organization has given the manager the authority to speak and act on behalf of the organization. If employees wish to remain in the organization, they must respect the manager's authority. Employees may not respect the manager, but they do respect the authority the manager has been given. Followers follow the direction of leaders by choice. The leader remains in the lead role only as long as followers choose to follow. Followers can revoke a leader's authority by withdrawing their consent to follow.

A consideration of authority leads to a discussion of power. Managers tend to use power derived from their position and their control of rewards and punishments. Positional or legitimate power derives from the manager's position in the organization. This pertains to the above discussion on authority. Reward power derives from the manager's ability to award benefits people are seeking. Coercive power issues from the manager's ability to impose negative consequences. The power exercised by leaders tends to emerge from what the leader knows or who the leader is. Expert power is based on expertise, special skills, or particular knowledge possessed by the leader and perceived as valuable by followers. Referent power arises from desirable resources or traits the leader possesses.

Following are some additional differences to add to those described in previous postings.

Managers vs. Leaders
Seek control vs. Seek influence
Pull, prod, push followers vs. Attract followers
Emphasize what is visible vs. Emphasize what is invisible
Focus on doing vs. Focus on becoming
Concerned about the physical vs. Concerned about the spiritual
Goal oriented vs. Mission oriented
Focus on the parts vs. Focus on the whole
Provide form & structure vs. Provide meaning
Stay within the boundaries vs. Play with the boundaries
Preserve stability vs. Promote instability
Efficient vs. Effective
Do things right vs. Do the right things
Needs-driven vs. Values-led
Short-term perspective vs. Long-term perspective
Administer what already exists vs. Create what does not yet exist
Administer resources vs. Steward resources
Train for skill development vs. Train for self development
Influence through power & authority vs. Influence through love & caring
Expect followers to serve vs. Seek to serve followers