Leaders vs. Managers

Or are they just the same thing...

A big common misconception in the professional world is that managers are by definition leaders. I have learned through Pharmacy School and my outside involvement that they are in fact VERY different roles. What makes them different you ask? Let's list it out..

Managers

Managers are in charge of a group of people. They tend to be more task oriented. There goal and end game tends to be more transactional. Managers do things to get them right. They are more about the money and getting their team to do things the right way to do them. 

Leaders

Leaders do many things: inspire, lead change, honesty, confidence, humility, creative, charismatic, have passion, build relationships and many other things. Leaders have people who chose to follow them. These followers make the leaders mission valid and supported. A leader is concerned about fostering the growth of people and not just about the bottom line.

I have had many bosses and I have had bosses who were strictly managers and others that truly are leaders. They CAN over lap, but they are NOT mutually exclusive. Both leaders and managers are important to have in order to get things accomplished. The big thing is that there is a distinction between the two. A person who displays leadership may be more likely to be promoted to manager roles because of their abilities.