Organizations large and small cite leadership as a critical component of their success. Yet the term "leadership" is often used as a synonym for "management." They're not the same thing.
"Management is about coping with complexity," John Kotter wrote in the Harvard Business Review. Managers develop processes and ways of measuring things. They plan, set targets, budget and track numbers. They write guidelines to keep the organization running smoothly. Good managers are absolutely vital to an organization’s success, but good managers are not necessarily good leaders.
Leaders influence people—by providing purpose, direction and motivation—while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization.
