Distinctions Between Leaders and Managers

Eleven years ago, in 1997, Warren Bennis and Joan Goldsmith published a Revised Edition of “Learning to Lead”, in the book they make 13 distinctions between managers and leaders. Have you heard of them yet? Can you think of any other?

I use these distinctions as “clues”. Is good to look for the leaders’ behaviors in the people you work with. By the way, that’s what Bennis and Goldsmith suggest as the starting point in their book.

And the distinctions are:

  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 accepts reality; The leader investigates it.
  5. The manager focuses on systems and structures; The leader focuses on people.
  6. The manager relies on control; The leader inspires trust.
  7. The manager has a short-range view; The leader has a long range perspective.
  8. The manager asks how and when; The leader asks what and why.
  9. The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; The leader has his or her eye always on the horizon.
  10. The manager imitates; The leader originates.
  11. The manager accepts the status quo; The leader challenges it.
  12. The manager is the classic good soldier; The leader is his or her own person.
  13. The manager does things right; The leader does the right thing.

Be Aware, Be A Leader :)

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10 comments

1 Kanan V. Jaswal { 09.29.08 at 12:50 pm }

Believing strongly that inanimates like fixed and current assets, systems & procedures, and software programs, are to be managed and people to be led, I would like to describe the artificial differences between managers and leaders as semantic jugglery. I don’t mean any disrespect to Warren Bennis and Joan Goldsmith but I do think that their witty oneliners unnecessarily belittle the managers and glorify the leaders.

2 G F Hamim { 09.29.08 at 10:21 pm }

The distinctions are clear and the good ones. However, it is not necessary for a manager to become a leader but a leader sometimes must play the role of a manager.

3 Henry Rosemann Effendi { 09.30.08 at 12:57 am }

Managers are man-made but Leaders are not – they are born wit

4 EMMANUEL ABDULSALAAM { 10.01.08 at 9:43 am }

much as i enjoyed the distinctons. Am persuaded to belive that a leader must first be a good manager.

5 Skart { 10.02.08 at 12:29 am }

All that is said here is the difference between ‘a normal manager’ and ‘a better and more individualistic manager’. There are many authors have tried to difference out manager from leader, always vainly. I really haven’t read the book but if the book follows this tone, then it is not worth it, I guess.

6 AMEH MICHAEL { 10.02.08 at 9:05 am }

It is very good to me that is learning how to become a good manager and at the same time a leader.Thanks, i really enjoy the information.

7 Sharif Arif { 10.03.08 at 1:55 am }

I am learning alot from this web site and developing my self to be a good example of a leader and a good manager.

Outstanding- superb- fabulous. Liked the topic alot.

looking forward to seeing more interesting ones

8 Sharif Arif { 10.03.08 at 1:59 am }

Thanks for posting a wonderful topic about leadership & Management.

9 Anil Mydur { 10.05.08 at 1:58 pm }

It is really interesting to see distinctions between manager & A leader , According to me basically A good manager is just close to becoming a good leader , I dont see the other way true -not necessarily ,many good leaders arent good managers I mean they woulnt under go the same experinces as a Good managers undergo & as leaders would always want to step up to next level of success.Generally no two situations in any business can be the same .

AM

10 MAKEWA DANIEL { 07.08.09 at 12:44 pm }

Am humbled by these obervations about leadership. I think leadership and management are inter-twined rather than juxtaposed.

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