The Difference Between Great Managers and Great Leaders

You probably hear it all the time around the water cooler or in the lunch room; “Wow, he really is a good leader.” Companies want to have leaders in their ranks, not just managers. We understand that it can be difficult for companies to differentiate between good leaders and good managers, but you need to be able to do this in order for your company to succeed.

Plenty of Differences Between Managers and Leaders

When you look at a manager in your company, you need to figure out if he or she is a great leader while also being a great manager. This can be difficult if you are not around the employee for an extended amount of time. One of the major differences between a great manager and a great leader is simple: a manager manages people and a leader leads people. This seems like an obvious statement, but it is incredibly true.

What is a Manager?

In the simplest of terms, a manager is someone who is in charge of a group of people. He or she is responsible for the group meeting goals and succeeding as much as possible. Many times, a manager will take the fall when a group fails. Employees who are just managers and not leaders will focus on administrative duties, structure, the bottom line, doing things right, toes the line and much more.

What is a Leader?

The definition of a leader is pretty much the same as a manager, but there are some important differences. An employee who is a great leader will be innovative, will do the right thing, will be original, will develop, will focus on the people working for him or her, inspires trust, challenges the status quo and will always have an eye on the horizon.

The Biggest Difference

What we failed to mention earlier in this post is quite possibly the most important difference between great leaders and great managers. A great manager will be able to achieve success with his or her group, but will look for the recognition or credit from that success. A great leader will find success with the group, but will look to praise his or her employees and make sure they are given credit when due.

When looking to hire a great leader, the staff at SmartTalent can help navigate the waters of thousands of job applications. Call the Fife WA firm today for help with staffing.