The difference between Management and Leadership

(This is an upper-intermediate activity.)

Match the words in column A with the definitions in column B. (Check your answers below.)

The difference between management and leadership can be summarized as follows:

• Management controls or directs people/resources in an organisation according to principles or values that have already been established. Management is the day-to-day running of the organisation. Managers have subordinates or a small team of people carrying out daily activities - in sales, marketing or logistics, for example.
• Leadership is setting direction or vision for an organisation that all the employees follow. The leader acts as the spearhead for that new direction. Leadership, therefore, is ensuring that the vision and mission of the organisation are achieved. In other words, leaders have meetings with heads of departments or managers of departments to ensure that all departments are working together in order to achieve the stated objectives.

ANSWERS

Vision: the ability to think and plan the future with imagination

Spearhead: to lead a project or new strategy

Values: principles or standards of behaviour that are believed to be important

Motivate: to provide someone with a reason for doing something

Compel: to force or oblige someone to do something

Authoritarian: A management style that demands strict obedience to the rules and commands of the manager

Subordinate: someone lower in rank or position within a company

Voluntary: An action done by choice and without needing to be rewarded in any way