Executive Leadership: The Art of Leading, Not Managing | Written By Dr Emmanuel Eni Amadi PhD, MBA, MSc, PGDip, B.Pharm.
Leadership and management are often used interchangeably, but they are two distinct roles, each with its unique set of skills and responsibilities. At the Amadi Global Leadership Academy Executive Education, Dr Emmanuel Eni Amadi is here to help you understand the differences between the two.
Here are the Big differences:
Controlling Resources vs. Inspiring People:
While a manager is concerned with organizing and controlling resources to achieve predetermined goals, a leader inspires and guides people towards a common vision.
Innovation vs. efficiency and productivity:
Leadership places emphasis on vision, inspiration, and innovation, which sets it apart from management. A manager’s focus is on efficiency and productivity, while a leader’s focus is on people and motivating them to achieve success. Successful leaders understand that by creating an atmosphere of trust, transparency, and collaboration, they can foster an environment that will inspire growth and innovation, ultimately leading to enhanced performance and productivity. An example of the power of leadership can be seen in Apple Inc.’s success. Steve Jobs was known for his visionary leadership, which pushed the company to innovate and create products that people didn’t even know they wanted. This drive for innovation made Apple one of the most successful companies in the world, and Jobs is still remembered as one of the greatest leaders of all time.
The Cost of Leadership:
While everybody is born with leadership potential hidden inside them, not everybody can lead because of the fear of huge responsibilities, and ‘Costs.’ Leadership comes at a cost, and the price could be riskier. Leaders need to be prepared to take risks and deal with uncertainty. Innovation can be risky, and sometimes leaders have to take decisions that can put themselves, and the company, at risk. An example of this can be seen in Elon Musk, who is currently dealing with the consequences of the risky move to use his own funds to save Tesla from bankruptcy in 2008.
Leadership Styles don’t have to be rigid, but dynamic:
Leadership styles can vary, with different styles being more effective in different contexts. In the UK, managers or political leaders employ different styles, depending on the situation. For example, Prime Minister Boris Johnson can be seen as an autocratic leader, often imposing his will on those around him. On the other hand, Prince William can be seen as a democratic leader, focused on collaboration and consensus-building.
The benefits outweigh the risks:
The benefits of honing different leadership styles cannot be overstated. Different leadership styles can influence profitability and team cohesion, productivity, and satisfaction. For example, employing a transformational leadership style can inspire employees to exceed expectations and lead to increased job satisfaction. In contrast, an autocratic leadership style can lead to high turnover and low employee engagement.
In conclusion, leadership is about creating a vision that inspires people to follow, while management is about achieving predetermined goals. The benefits of leadership cannot be denied, but leaders must also be prepared to take risks and deal with uncertainty. Understanding different leadership styles and honing them to create a positive work environment can enhance profit, productivity, and team cohesion.
Dr Emmanuel Amadi holds a doctorate degree in Medical Sciences and specialises in lung cancer Genomics, Cancer pathology, Molecular mechanisms, Nanotoxicology of nanoparticles in drug delivery, COPD, and lung cancer. He’s the Founder of Amadi Global Leadership Academy | Executive Education.
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