Discerning the Differences between Managers and Leaders

Allan P. Limin

It is true that we must differentiate and recognized the difference between managers and leaders as it was exclaimed by J. Gregory Reynolds and Walter H. Warfield in their journal.

Nowadays schools move ahead to emerge into progressively conglomerate institution as the multiplicity of the learners continue to develop. Aggregated to this chrysalis is the supposition for all the students to conform to the advancement that entails this amelioration. The rapid change brought about by the standards of learning creates a higher expectation to foresee educational triumphs among the students.

The broadening ideals and modifying statistics site new arrogation on educational leaders differentiating the traditional and the present ways of maturating learners fostering leadership skills to promote performance as measured by sound academic assessments.

Educational leaders particularly the teachers must realize and appreciate that leading the students requires a collaborative effort to fully equip the learners and establish the door of success. The perception of educational excellence must be conveyed in a way that the stakeholders have synchronized aspirations to build the foundation of greatness among the learners.

I truly agree that effective leadership plays an important role in the shepherd toward a successful institution. Educational visionaries and authentic leaders are necessary in the creation of an outstanding school. These leaders have the passion and the strength to be competent and study what real leadership is and is not.

As I have examined the difference between management and leadership, I admit that it is better to become a leader who is innovative, honest, forward-looking, inspiring, competent, models the way, inspire shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart rather than a manager who only administer, ask how and when, focus on the system, maintain, rely on control, have a short-term perspective, accept the status quo, imitate and copy.

I’d be of the same mind as Kouzes and Posner who found that leadership can be learned as long as you believe that it applies to you and that it is an outcome of mastered skills.

I will bear in mind that effective leaders distinguish their strengths and weaknesses and find new ways to alleviate the weak points and propagate their strong points to embrace change for more opportunities of developments.

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The author is Teacher-III at Pampanga High School