When comparing leadership with management, it is essential to understand that they

are not mutually exclusive. In his Leadership: Theory and PracticePeter Northouse
pointed out that they are similar in many ways. Both leadership and management
involve influence, working with people, concern about effective goal
accomplishment, and other shared characteristics, etc. Additionally, as Richard Daft
wrote, “leadership cannot replace management,” but rather is something that is to be
practiced “in addition to management” (see The Leadership Experience, p. 15).
Per Daft, the main difference between leadership and management lies in the fact
that in the classical managerial context “managers are thinkers and workers are
doers,” while in a leadership context both leaders and workers/followers think, do,
lead, “expand their minds and abilities to assume responsibility” for their decisions
and actions.
Another researcher that wrote about management as opposed to leadership was
Warren Bennis. In the On Becoming a Leader volume Bennis listed the following
differences:
1. The manager administers; the leader innovates.
2. The manager is a copy; the leader is an original.
3. The manager maintains; the leader develops.
4. The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader focuses on people.
5. The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust.
6. The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.
7. The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.
8. The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader’s eye is on
the horizon.
9. The manager imitates; the leader originates.
10. The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.
11. The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.
12. The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.
Above-quoted Richard Daft looked at the differences between management and
leadership from 5 different angles: (i) that of direction, (ii) alignment, (iii)
relationships, (iv) personal qualities, and (v) outcomes. From characteristics that
have not been mentioned by Bennis, Daft listed:
13. The manager plans and budgets; the leader creates vision and strategy
[direction]
14. The manager is generally directing and controlling; the leader allows room for
others to grow, and change him/her in the process [alignment]
15. The manager creates boundaries; the leader reduces them [alignment]
16. The manager’s relationship with people is based on position power; the leader’s
relationship and influence is based on personal power [relationships]
17. The manager acts as boss; the leader acts as coach, facilitator, and servant
[relationships]
18. The manager exhibits and focuses on (a) emotional distance, (b) expert mind, (c)
talking, (d) conformity, and (e) insight into organization; the leader: (a) emotional
connectedness, (b) open mind, (c) listening, (d) nonconformity, and (e) insight into
self [personal qualities]
19. The manager maintains stability; the leader creates change [outcome]
20. The manager creates a culture of efficiency; the leader creates a culture of
integrity [outcome]

The Leader Is Followed. The Manager Rules

A leader is someone who people naturally follow through their own choice,
whereas a manager must be obeyed. A manager may only have obtained his
position of authority through time and loyalty given to the company, not as a
result of his leadership qualities. A leader may have no organisational skills,
but his vision unites people behind him.

• Leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that

they follow, ie: a leader is the spearhead for that new direction

• Management controls or directs people/resources in a group

according to principles or values that have already been
established.
The difference between leadership and management can be
illustrated by considering what happens when you have one without
the other.
Leadership Without Management
...sets a direction or vision that others follow, without considering too
much how the new direction is going to be achieved. Other people
then have to work hard in the trail that is left behind, picking up the
pieces and making it work. Eg: in Lord of the Rings, at the council of
Elrond, Frodo Baggins rescues the council from conflict by taking
responsibility for the quest of destroying the ring - but most of the
management of the group comes from others.
Management Without Leadership
...controls resources to maintain the status quo or ensure things
happen according to already-established plans. Eg: a referee
manages a sports game, but does not usually provide "leadership"
because there is no new change, no new direction - the referee is
controlling resources to ensure that the laws of the game are followed
and status quo is maintained.