Things Right or Right Thing?

"Managers do things right while leaders do the right thing." At least so suggested Warren Bennis in 1989.

He also listed eleven other distinctions, although the rest are not (yet) as well know. The other eleven are:

- Managers administer; leaders innovate.
- Managers ask how and when; leaders ask what and why.
- Managers focus on systems; leaders focus on people.
- Managers maintain; leaders develop.
- Managers rely on control; leaders inspire trust.
- Managers have short-term perspective; leaders have long-term
perspective.
- Managers accept the status-quo; leaders challenge the
status-quo.
- Managers have an eye on the bottom line; leaders have an eye
on the horizon.
- Managers imitate; leaders originate.
- Managers emulate the classic good soldier; leaders are their
own person.
- Managers copy; leaders show originality.

Click here to read a discussion on interpreting disctinctions between leadership versus management.

References

Bennis, W. (1989). "On Becoming A Leader". Reading, Massachusetts: Perseus Books

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