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An Abundance of Managers, But Too Few Leaders. Agreed??

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Question added by Muhammad Farooq , Plant Operations and Project Manager , WR Grace
Date Posted: 2014/03/24
HANNA SABA
by HANNA SABA , Team Leader (Administrative Support), including translation, editing, and writing , Deloitte

I do not know why people always think of  leadership and management as if they were two opposie extremes on the same scale. True that leadership differs from management, and not all managers are leaders, and neither are all leaders managers. But, there are common denominators, and there are a lot of leader managers and manager leaders. Managers and leaders are both needed in life. Some people ascribe certain traits or characteristics to leadership and cliam that these traits and characteristics do not exist in managers. Well, I do not completely see eye to eye with these people. Managers are no less important than leaders. After all,leaders are far from being perfect people. Management is both science and art. Some people are promoted to managerial positions because they've exhibited some leadership qualities. Leadership is no longer the old image of the cavalier on the horseback dashing against the enemy in front of his troops. Nor is the manager the beaucrat who abides by the rules and knows nothing about how to lead his people. Management and leadership are both evolving. Managers should hone and develop leadership qualities, and so do leaders mangerial qualities. Managers and leaders have qualities that converge and diverge, and are never two opposite extremes.

Vidya Baday
by Vidya Baday , Chief Operating Officer , Intone Networks

True, the term Leader itself is self explanatory; One out of many. As you mentioned this happens because of managers who just don't want to take the extra step or take an initiative; Most like the comfort of where they are, don't like to change or change things around. A Leader will think and see of the future, has vision and clarity, and always on the look out for betterment. So there is definitely a huge gap.

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