LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Distinction between Leadership & Management

Distinction between Leadership & Management

The term leadership needs to be carefully defined as it is a common vocabulary word, often used in the context of technical vocabulary of scientific discipline. This ambiguity leads to confusion and words such as management, authority, power etc. are perceived as leadership synonyms.

Leadership has been defined in the past as per individual perspective. For some, it is an individual's behaviour leading to the accomplishment of organisational goals, and for some it is the ability of individual to motivate and lead others to contribute to the success of organisation.

Among the most commonly used definitions are:

Leadership is “the behaviour of an individual …directing the activities of a group toward a shared goal.”(Hemphil & Coons, 1957, p 7). Leadership is “the influential increment over and above mechanical compliance with the routine directives of the organisation.” (Katz & Kahn, 1978, p.528). Leadership is “is a process of giving purpose (meaningful direction) to the collective effort, and causing willing effort to be expended to achieve purpose.” (Jacobs & Jacques, 1990, p.281). Leadership is “the ability to step outside the culture…to start evolutionary change processes that are more adaptive.” (Schein, 1992, p.2)

The common essences in all definitions are to exert an influence over other people to guide the structure and relationships in a group or organisation. What the definitions differ is in the way this influence is exerted, by whom influence is exerted and the outcome this influence results in. Leadership has been accepted by behavioural scientists and practitioners as a real phenomenon that is essential for an organisation to achieve its purpose of existence.

The key area of debate is how much power leaders should have. Although it is implied that leaders do need some power a lot of this depends on the task that needs to be accomplished, the skill leader has to use the power granted, and the type of workforce power is exercised upon.

The way this power can be exercised depends on the leadership style of the leader. This is prescribed by the varieties of participation model. In short there are for styles of leadership:

Autocratic decision: The leader takes the decision without consulting his followers or taking their input. This concept is desirable where quick decision making needs to be done such as in the army. Hence here is no participation at all.

Consultation: This is also called democratic style of leadership where the leader takes the input from his staff and then takes the decision after seriously considering there suggestion. Note that the ultimate decision making power lies with the leader.

Joint decision: The leader has no more influence over the final decision. The matter is discussed with the team, and final decision is taken jointly.

Delegation: The authority and responsibility are trickled down the team and they are given powers to make a decision without any prior approval.

There are two early theories of leadership Charismatic leadership theory and Transformational leadership theory. The former theory is strongly influenced by the ideas of a Greek ...