What is the Difference Between Managers and Leaders

Main Difference

Every department and organization is run by certain skilled persons. Among all these experts of their particular field, one must have to lead from the front and to instruct them as well as supervise to get their tasks done. Manager is an individual who plays a vital role in the management of a company or organization. As the title suggests, a Manager has to manage all the things within the company. There are the leaders of their team. However, not all the managers are Leaders. A Manager may only manager and direct the employees to follow orders. He can’t inspire its team members and this is what a Leader distinguishes himself from the Manager as employees would like to follow a Leader happily, willingly and voluntarily. Managers are duty-bound to get the work done for the organization where they have to fulfill functions such as management and to get company’s goals accomplished. A Leader always thinks beyond fulfilling the objectives of a company and he is, normally, not accountable for any ups and downs. Manager, on the other hand, is responsible and accountable for everything within the organization. He has the power to choose employees for the company and he has to take pain in order to ensure efficiency for the tasks. Any individual may become a Leader by exploring his qualities, characteristics, potential etc. and to apply them upon himself. Manager, however, can’t be everyone as to become a Manager, there is a certain criteria to get oneself hired as a Manager. A Leader is an embodiment of passion towards achieving the goals and he has a tendency to motivate his followers. A Manager is rarely a passionate person and he doesn’t take upon his head to motivate his team and he only pays heed to accomplishing the objectives and he does his work. Employees follow the orders and directions given by their Manager because they have reservation for their earnings and livelihood. Leaders win the trust of his followers and people after inspiring them and showing obliviousness towards monetary benefits they are determined to achieve more than that. Managers tend to maintain their focus on the target, while Leaders are visionary, creative, innovative and have concerns about achieving greatness.

Comparison Chart

Definition of Manager

Manager is the one within an organization, company or group etc. who manages certain things within the wall of where he works. He is the person who is responsible for everything related to the concerns of the entity to which he belongs to. Manager directs the employees under his command. He is to call the shot in order to get certain tasks done. Employees are under the command of a Manager and they are bound to follow him to earn their livelihood. Employees are compelled to follow the Manager notwithstanding his directions are justified or not. Manager tends only to fulfill the working and he does not take pain to inspire the workers.

Definition of Leader

A Leader is a person who is bigger than a Manager. He is not the one to take pain in managing things though he too directs the people and his followers. Unlike Manager, the Leader inspires and motivate people not only inside where he serves but also outside it. He is a self-motivating person and knows how to instigate someone to do a certain job. Leadership abilities are either God-gifted or a person cherishes inside his personality to grow like a Leader. He gets inspired by Leaders and inspires others to become leaders. A leader is not bound to follow orders from anyone and he tends to draw his own lines to pursue.

Differences in a Nutshell

1. Manager is the one who manages certain things; Leader has the least concerns to management
2. A person becomes a manager by following some certain criteria; Leader is an inner attitude and ability
3. Leader inspires people; Manager doesn’t pay any heed to think out of the wall
4. Manager is responsible for the tasks he was assigned; Leader is not responsible for any outcome
5. Manager may act like an authoritative to get the tasks done by the employees; Leader inspires people to follow him willingly and readily
6. Manager is attached with some organization or company; it is not a compulsion for a leader to become a part of some group in the society