The difference between leadership and management in the workplace

[UniBallEye]

Reading another thread got me thinking about this topic and I wondered what you would define as the key qualities to be a good leader or a good manager?

I work in a very creative sector and a couple of years ago I was interviewed by a post grad student as part of a PhD research project about Leadership in the Arts. He asked a series of questions which I had not seen in advance. I have never had training nor studied 'leadership' but based on my answers he said I fitted into the 'Authentic Leadership' model.

I looked it up afterwards and it does definitely mirror how I like to work.

I'm in my 50s now and, like most of us, have had plenty of experience of good and bad managers / leadership.

My observations are that a lot of people are propelled to levels they're not actually suited to and fear keeps them from seeking help - this can lead to terrible situations in work places.

Anyway I'm interested to hear what anyone else thinks and also - do you think there's merit to all the 'leadership' styles now identified? It's absolutely not my field so I have no way of judging if it's all just corporate-speak or actually meaningful

Have you read this?
Thomas Chamorro-Premuzic - Why So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders
Though I would argue if they are incompetent, they are not leaders, merely in a management position.

I think it depends on context?

I think both should be someone skilful in enabling other people to succeed/thrive - and who enjoys that role rather than being motivated by having or exercising power over people.

A good manager also has operational skills. They don't necessarily have any leadership skills because people have no choice but to follow them due to the manager's status and authority.

A good leader does not necessarily have any formal / structural authority or power, but people choose to follow them because of how they behave.

You can have good and bad managers. You can have good leaders and bad leaders, but bad leaders do not last long due to a strategic crunch.

Examples of leaders:
Zelensky
Thatcher
Hitler
Ghandi
Obama
Blair
Putin
Musk

Examples of managers:
Churchill
Johnson
Corbyn
Putin (appears twice)
Bush
Buffett

Manager's push, a leader is followed.

I've previously had great managers, excellent at their role and getting great results out of me but now I'm lucky enough to have a great leader. They're part of the team and lead from the front - if something is dropped illness etc they're stepping in and taking the slack immediately. Our performance has improved tenfold with the leader style of team head.

What might be interesting as a comparison between the two is that the manager always aspired to people management/responsibility, the leader had it thrust upon them. It's my first time working for a leader and I much prefer it.

Don’t disagree with any of the above in theory, but in practice lots of managers actually get shit done, and lots of men people who call themselves “leaders” ponce about introducing initiatives that achieve nothing apart from creating additional pointless work for managers.

From a Kerren Brady interview

I've learned there's a big difference between managing people and leadership. Good managers ensure good outcomes, but great leaders can deliver a vision by getting people to work together. Good leaders communicate through both hearts and minds. The minds part is about communicating where we're going, how we'll get there, and people's individual roles in it. It's also about explaining what the reward will be for success. The hearts part is about creating a passion and a real connection between the person and the business. You've got to make people feel they're part of the team, and that their work is recognised and valued.