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  • Essay / Leadership, Management and Leadership Skills

    People, in general, want to be led, but need to be managed. Leadership and management can often be confused with the same task, and although they are complementary to each other, they are not the same skill set. Leadership is the ability to provide clarity of vision, help others achieve their goals, and develop and inspire members of the organization. Management, on the other hand, is the ability to ensure that tasks are accomplished, controlled and monitored to effectively manage the organization. Both can be achieved without the other, for example, a person can be a good manager but not a good leader, or they can be a good leader but not a good manager. However, it is the coercion of both that helps an organization thrive. (Kotterman, J., 2006, p. 13) Leadership, like everything else, can be a taught skill. Not everyone is born a leader, but they may be placed in a management position, requiring them to learn leadership skills. Five behaviors that great leaders and future leaders should learn to adopt are: questioning the process, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to act, leading the way, and encouraging the heart. (Bateman, T. and Snell, S., 2013, pp. 230-231). If these behaviors are practiced well and sincerely, then it will not be difficult to influence the organization and get people to give their best. Management without leadership might struggle to get people to perform at their best or work due to lack of inspiration and vision. Vision allows people to see the light at the end of the tunnel. An organization that has a clear vision empowers its employees to go above and beyond, give feedback they normally wouldn't be able to give, and motivate them to achieve that vision during... the middle of paper. .... work community. Transformational leaders are normally charismatic, very personal and transparent with the organization. Like most management tactics, it is best to use a blend of both leadership styles to be most effective. Overall, management is a skill set that can be exercised without leadership, but effectiveness could be compromised without it. Often people are appointed to management positions because of their technical skills, but they lack the leadership skills. Managers must and are able to learn to lead. (Nelson, TS, 2005, page 93). Leadership is crucial in all areas of management and must be evident in the organization. Leadership allows the organization to gain vision and stability in ways that are not provided by pure management. Therefore, the combination of management and leadership is what will truly contribute to the success of the organization..