Self-Evaluation: Direction

Both leaders and managers are concerned with providing direction for the organisation but there are differences.

Management gives direction in the short term regarding the details. Leadership gives direction in the long term regarding the big picture.

Management focuses on implementation: establishing detailed plans and schedules for achieving specific results, then allocating resources to accomplish the plan. Leadership calls for creativity: developing a compelling vision of the future and far-sighted strategies for producing the changes needed to achieve that vision.

Good management keeps an eye on the bottom line and short-term results, whereas leadership keeps an eye on the horizon and the long-term future.

Management produces a degree of stability, predictability, order and efficiency. Thus, good management helps the organisation achieve short-term results and meet the expectations of various people both inside and outside the organisation. Leadership questions and challenges the status quo so that flawed, outmoded or irrelevant norms can be replaced to meet new challenges. Thus, good leadership can lead to extremely valuable changes that help the organisation fulfill its divine purpose.

Management is needed to help the organisation meet its current commitments, whereas leadership is needed to move the organisation into the future.

Leaders build bridges to the future. Managers help us to actually get there.

Use the below document to assess yourself regarding these characteristics. You are welcome to download it and do it on your own time.