“All managers are leaders but all leaders are not managers” (Dec’12)

Q. “All managers are leaders but all leaders are not managers” (Dec’12).

Answer. Leadership and manager-ship are two synonymous terms is an incorrect statement. Leadership doesn’t require any managerial position to act as a leader. On the other hand, a manager can be true manager only if he has got the traits of leader in him. By virtue of his position, manager has to provide leadership to his group. A manager has to perform all five functions to achieve goals i.e.

1. Planning
2. Organizing
3. Staffing
4. Directing and
5. Controlling

Leadership is a part of these functions. Leadership as a general term is not related to managership. A person can be a leader by virtue of qualities in him. For example: Leader of club, class, welfare association, social organization, etc.

Therefore, it is true to say that, “all managers are leaders but all leaders are not managers”.