Essay on Leadership Management

Leadership and Management are two elements that are always undistinguishable since all managers must possess leadership traits. It is important to understand that leadership plays a vital part in the Management of any firm. Management is classified as the ability of an individual to control employees. A good manager leads to a productive and organized company (Buckingham, 2005). Leadership can be defined as a potential influence that an individual possesses to ensure employees strive to achieve the company’s goals. Leaders are people who take charge of a firm and provide their employees with the required tools to ensure the attainment of the success of their company

Leaders and managers have some things that they share. Hence a leader can sometimes assume management roles, and a manager can work as a leader in a company. Some of the similarities that leader and manager possess are like, both the manager and leader have a primary goal of improving and developing their firms. Secondly, both managers and leaders usually have some set goals and strategies for achieving their success. Thirdly, both managers and leaders are responsible for their companies. As a result, they establish policies that must be observed in their businesses. Additionally, most managers and leaders in a firm act as role models, and therefore they have to act the same way they advise the junior workers. Lastly, Managers and leaders usually educate and guide the junior worker, to grow them in their respective fields in the company.

The contrast between Management and leadership is that managers usually show authority while leaders provide direction and inspire workers in achieving goals (Zaleznik, 1977). Moreover, managers generally follow the companies` policies, whereas leaders follow their own instinct. Additionally, Mangers are usually reactive, but leaders are generally protective (Kotter, 2001). In addition, Management is based on written communication, whereas leadership is based on verbal communication. Leaders are usually kind since they consult and involve the workers to participate during meetings and give their opinions about a particular subject matter (Beck, & Harter 2014), whereas most managers are seen as dictatorial, authoritative, and transactional to their employees. Additionally, leaders have followers since most of their workers are always close to them and can even share their issues contrary, managers have subordinates. Lastly, leaders usually have a sense of self-awareness since they understand that they are not always correct. Therefore, they consider opinions from their workers. In contrast, managers lack self-awareness since they usually command and control their work.

Most of the influential leaders in the universe possess common traits that guide us to be the best leaders and achieve the visions of leading companies (Kotter, 2001), some characteristics that we have to include are: First, Good leaders have to share visions and give a clear idea of the success we want to achieve in a company. Secondly, we lead by example, as they align with the behavior they want employees to possess. Thirdly, we demonstrate integrity since we must have some values that guide us when dealing with workers. Additionally, as a leader, we tend to treat the employees in the best way possible. This strategy makes them give a quality job since they have peace at work. Another trait is that good leaders should involve themselves in their work with the employees. This trait helps us to build a good relationship with the employees as we engage.

As a Leader, I should possess these traits because, through these characteristics, a leader can achieve the company’s goals and set visions. Attributes push leaders to initiate development in their firms. Additionally, Good traits lead to the sustainability of the company, and also, the traits will guide leaders in making decisions that they will be taking each time for proper running of the company (Beck, & Harter, 2014). More so, the possession of universal traits helps a leader in accountability. When I have good traits, I become responsible for the team’s performance, whether the results are good or bad. Also, possession of leadership helps in adaptability. As a leader, I must understand that schedules, plans, and even goals usually change. As a leader, I must be strong and flexible to change as conditions change. Lastly, having a leader’s traits will help me be a creative spearhead since the best leaders must be able to come up with pathways or take ideas from those leaders who have to make it in the industry before him.

The insights that I gained personal assessment as a leader are first, as a leader, I should not only give the employees a chance to speak and give their views, but also I should give them space to contribute to the goals of the company, secondly, as a leader, I should build relations with my workmates since good relations at works make employees feel free. Lastly, as a leader, I should possess the interest of others at heart since this will build trust among the company’s employees (London, 2001). The insight that surprises me is the ability to have the interest of my workers at heart. What I will do differently to improve my effectiveness as a leader is first to help all my workers understand the meaning of their work and how the company’s success will benefit them. Additionally, I will take time to understand each employee that I have in my company, and this includes where they come from and some of the problems they might be facing.

In conclusion, Leadership and management are seen to be synonymous since all managers possess leadership qualities. Management is the ability of an individual to control employees, while Leadership is where an individual possesses influence over the workers. Leadership and management have similar traits. For instance, both leaders and managers strive to achieve the goals of the company. Leadership and management have contrast managers are viewed as authoritative while leaders are seen to inspire the workers to achieve the goals. Leaders have some traits that guide them, like sharing their visions also aligns with the behaviors of their employees. The advantage of possessing these traits is that it helps the leaders achieve the goals and the set visons.

References

Beck, R., & Harter, J. (2014). Why good managers are so rare. Harvard Business Review.

Buckingham, M. (2005). what Great Managers.

Kotter, J. P. (2001). What leaders really do. Harvard business review, 79(11).

London, M. (2001). Leadership development: Paths to self-insight and professional growth. Psychology Press.

Zaleznik, A. (1977). Managers and leaders: Are they different.