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Leadership versus management

Is change just about the management or, does it involve leadership?

If so, what's the difference?

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Leadership versus management - to see whether you are a Leader or a Manager, answer True or False to the following statements:


  1. I think more about immediate results than I do about mentoring others

  2. It’s nice to know about people’s long-term goals, but not necessary to do the job

  3. The greatest pleasure in my job comes from making the work process more effective

  4. I spend more of my time and attention on the weaker performers than I do on my top performers, who basically take care of themselves

  5. It’s my job to know everything that goes on in my area

If you answered mainly “True” to the questions above, then you’ve given a Manager’s response. If you’ve answered mainly “False”, then you’ve given a Leader’s response. See why and read the excellent full article by James Holden the CEO of "Leadership Revolution": Leadership versus management



“Those who have changed the universe have never done it by changing officials, but always by inspiring the people.”

Napoleon Boneparte



Someone whom others will follow


I define leadership as someone whom others will follow. What's your definition of leadership?

In my experience:

  • Leaders drive change where as managers deliver it

  • Leaders define culture whereas managers are defined by it

  • Leaders innovate whereas managers administrate

Whilst the very definitions change management and programme management emphasise the management aspect [and of course this is important] much of the cause of the 70% failure rate in change initiatives is directly attributable to a lack of leadership...

Leadership that sees the bigger picture - that ensures that people will follow - and the discipline of a programme management approach provides the tools and processes to facilitate that.

For more on this and with a timely reminder about related topics
subscribe to your E-ZINE - "Strategies for Managing Change". Sent out approximately every 2 weeks to anyone involved in or planning a change initiative.

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Change needs to be seen to be led


A step change initiative needs to be led - and it needs to be seen to be led.

Identifying and enlisting the support of leaders [as well as the managers] within your organisation is key to successful culture change and change management.

Here is a comparison between the differing but complementary roles and skills of leaders and managers: characteristics of leadership and management


    "Leadership and Management are two distinct but complementary systems…

    While managers promote stability, leaders press for change. Only organisations that can embrace both sides of that contradiction can thrive in turbulent times.”

    Kotter




Other perspectives


A further perspective on leadership versus management from the excellent changingminds.org run by David Straker and probably "the largest site in the world on all aspects of how we change what others think, feel and do."

My own personal view and experience of leadership is that:

  • Leaders are born not made

  • You know if you are a leader

  • Others know if you are a leader

And my own leadership credo is that "it is better to be decisively wrong that indecisively right"! What's your perspective on this?



Recommended resources on leadership


John Baldoni is a recognized thought leader in leadership and communications as well as a popular motivational speaker, executive coach, and communications consultant. In 2007 John was named one of the world’s top 30 leadership gurus by Leadership Gurus International.

In my view, he talks a lot of sense and is very practical. If you check out all of the tabs and links on his website you will find many free articles and videos.

Harvard Business Publishing - the publishers of The Harvard Business Review - offer a series of free articles by several thought leaders [courtesy of sponsorship by Microsoft] on key aspects of leadership versus management and specifically: How to Survive the Recession



FREE Ebook Download + EZINE



    This 29 page document is a brief introduction to some of the key themes and key points that you need to consider in starting the change process.

    Contents include:

    # 5 Guiding principles to incremental and step change
    # Assessing the case for change
    # The single biggest issue re managing change
    # 8 key strategies for managing change
    # 4 key steps to incremental change
    # How to shape your step-change initiative
    # The 3 Keys to realising the benefits of step change

    For more see: Starting the change process

    Receive your FREE ebook download "Starting The Change Process" and for more on all this together with a timely reminder on related topics subscribe to your E-ZINE NOW.

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    Sent out approximately every 2 weeks and featuring an article on key relevant aspects of leading and managing change, and occasional updates on new features on this site. See here for: Back Issues




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Putting all this into practise







Further resources

Leadership styles - What is most effective in leading change?

Leadership characteristics - The 5 practices of excellent leadership

Transformational leadership - Successfully inspiring and leading people through change

Toxic Leadership - How to spot it and avoid it

Leadership quotes



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