InTents April/May 2023 - 38

business | management
Leadership and management
Different roles, but both are necessary for success.
by Madeleine MacRae
L
Leaders vs. Managers
Here are the primary qualities of
leaders and managers according to
Julia Martins, author of the article
" Leadership vs. management:
Are they different? " An effective
organization requires both roles.
Leaders provide:
* Motivation
* Creativity
* Mentoring
* Problem-solving
* Risk-taking
Managers provide:
* Feedback
* Professional development
* Delegation
* Organization and planning
* Problem-solving
* Team-building
Read more at asana.com/resources/
leadership-vs-management.
eadership and management are
closely related; however, despite often
being spoken of in the same breath,
they are certainly not synonymous. If
we use those terms interchangeably, we
tend to behave as if these roles are interchangeable
and equivalent. Doing so
means we miss critical components of
excellence within our organizations.
Destination vs. the path
Leadership is the ability to inspire and
provide a vision so that individuals
or groups can achieve a common
goal. Management is more granular,
involving the planning, coordination
and guidance of team members, tasks
and tools needed to accomplish that
goal. Leadership is about envisioning
and communicating a future state and
inspiring others to work toward it.
Management is about organizing and
utilizing resources in an efficient and
effective manner in the service of that
future state. Said more simply, leaders
provide the destination and managers
chart the path.
In every organization, no matter how
big or small, both functions are critical
to success. Companies flourish when
leadership teams embrace both roles,
and teams thrive when their managers
know how to manage and lead.
Leaders inspire a larger vision
Since leaders often think strategically,
they are constantly looking ahead. They
want to inspire others to think beyond
the present and to work toward a
38 intents april-may 2023
greater outcome. Great leaders catalyze
the group toward a goal and, to ensure
success in that endeavor, foster and
promote positivity and productivity.
They are known for empowering
individuals to make decisions and take
ownership of their work. They are
committed to the outcome and want
each team member to contribute to
that goal. Autonomy and authority are
provided as tools along the journey;
however, providing the road map to the
destination is a function of management,
not leadership.
Managers craft the route
It is the role of managers to craft the
pathway to the intended destination.
And more than that, they need to ensure
that their team members are properly
equipped, empowered and educated so
they have the resources and the knowhow
to stay on track. Not getting lost
along the way is, of course, a critical part
of accomplishing goals, and maintaining
the required pace is what preserves the
timelines of a particular business.
Guide rather than control
Planning, organizing, directing and
guiding the activities of team members
are all key components of effective management.
However, mistaking control
for guidance is often what trips up many
managers. Whether stemming from
their own insecurities, a lack of training
or plain shortsightedness, many managers
default to micromanagement, which
disempowers their direct reports.
http://www.asana.com/resources/
InTents April/May 2023

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