To Lead or To Manage?

What is the difference between Leadership and Management? Recently a colleague wrote me that she had never really thought about it until she read a quote from Bob Lewis in his book Keep the Joint Running, A Manifesto for 21st Century Information Technology.

“If people are following then you’re leading. Otherwise you aren’t. That’s what leadership is about – setting direction, and getting others to head in that direction without your having to drag them along. Management, in contrast, is about getting things done – about defining good processes and producing quality results efficiently. If you accept this segregation of responsibilities then make sure you master management before you master leadership.”

Grasping the subtle differences between leading and managing is crucial for anyone with employees. Most definitions are similar to Lewis’ above. Management is typically about processes, procedures and control, whereas leadership is often comprised of much more intangible skills. Mastering management is easier. If you make sure people follow the processes and procedures, you are managing. Learning and using the nuances of leadership is much more difficult. If management is a science, leadership is definitely an art.

Interestingly, many of today’s writers, including Lewis, tend to separate the two disciplines as if they are distinct and unique skills. Jack Welch, retired CEO of General Electric often said that he wants his top people to lead not manage. In an interview with a San Francisco newspaper, Welch said “Managers control, they don't facilitate. Managers complicate things, they don't simplify them.” He uses the analogy that managers tend to keep their feet on the brakes rather than on the gas.

While I have great respect for the wisdom of Jack Welch, I disagree with his “either/or” approach. I believe management is part of Leadership, not a separate discipline.

In my experience, effective leaders exhibit advanced skills such as communicating, empathizing, coaching, and adapting to change. Management should be viewed as another skill of a good leader. Generally speaking, you cannot be an effective leader without also being a good manager.

So, while Lewis’ suggestion that we “master management before you master leadership,” may be correct, it is also a bit misleading. It would be more accurate to say “master management as part of mastering leadership” because you cannot be a great leader without also knowing how to manage. Mark Shead said it another way: “A leader is someone who knows where to go. Management skills are how they actually get there.”

While the differences may be subtle, they are significant. Effective leadership is important because it is impacts your employees and the success of your organization. Studies have shown that most employees, regardless of their role, responsibilities or position will produce more, and the results will be of higher quality, when they feel empowered and engaged in their job. If you are “managing” your employees to get things done, you will achieve much more by “leading” them.

To know whether you are leading or just managing, consider this perspective from David Straker at ChangingMinds.org:

“The biggest difference between managers and leaders is the way they motivate the people who work or follow them. By definition, managers have subordinates. Leaders do not have subordinates - at least not when they are leading. Many organizational leaders do have subordinates, but only because they are also managers. But when they want to lead, they have to give up formal authoritarian control, because to lead is to have followers, and following is always a voluntary activity.”

The answer to whether you are leading or managing is whether your employees are followers or subordinates. If you depend on processes and procedures to accomplish your objectives, you are managing. If you are sharing your vision and empowering your people, you are leading.

Leadership Subtlety: Before leaving your desk for an interaction with employees, try substituting the word Leader or Leadership in your title in place of supervisor, manager or vice-president. Now decide; are you going to “manage” or “lead”?