Leadership vs. management: what it is and what it means

The leadership-management distinction identifies two organizational functions that are separate but complementary: management coordinates existing resources toward known goals through planning, allocation and control; leadership steers people toward new or uncertain directions through vision, communication and development. A business owner performs both functions in proportions that vary depending on the moment.

Distinctive: management coordinates existing resources toward known goals
Distinctive: leadership steers people toward new or uncertain directions
Essential: two organizational functions that are separate but complementary
Essential: proportions that vary depending on the moment
Constant: planning, allocation and control
Constant: vision, communication and development

Glossary

Leadership vs. management

A conceptual separation between two organizational functions: management coordinates toward known goals; leadership steers toward new or uncertain directions.