Running head: Leadership & Management Discussion 1
Leadership & Management Discussion
Abigail K. Riffe
Liberty University
Author Note
Abigail K. Riffe, Masters of Executive Leadership, Liberty University Online
This writing was prepared for Dr. L. King for Executive Leadership and Management
Contact: [email protected]
Leadership & Management Discussion 2
Leadership & Management Discussion
Chapters 1-2 of Satterlee's textbook reviews important information regarding the
difference between the concept of management versus leadership. The key difference between
management and leadership lies in the focus of each role. Management has a focus on the
practical, seeking to organize, plan, and monitor (Satterlee, 2018), whereas the focus of
leadership goes beyond the practical to a broader, personal focus. Such additional focuses of the
leader include motivation of team members, and an eye for the big picture or long term goals.
Management's job is to complete, leadership's job is to inspire and encourage.
Concepts
Followership Variability
Followership, or those who are on a team/under another's jurisdiction, play an important
part in leadership. Everyone cannot be a leader, for there must be followers for there to be a
leader. Followership holds a higher power than one would initially think. While leadership holds
the power of the people that rally behind them, it is only by the follower's consent that this
occurs. Followers remain autonomous despite their devotion to a leader. They are human,
possessing free will to do as they please, meaning that in the case they want to remove their
support, they are able to. This concept is seen more in leadership than in management because of
the nature of leadership, and can be used as a measure for the effectiveness of such a leader. One
can judge the soundness of leadership ability based on the follower count. Because the follower's
free will in a leadership relationship, it is a true reflection of the leader based on the devoted
followers. It speaks of the leader's character if there is a great following that is devoted to them
and/or their cause.
Leadership & Management Discussion 3
Transactional Leadership Vs. Management
Upon an initial glance at transactional leaders, one sees many similarities with the role of
management, however, after further scrutinization, there are many differences that merit
transactional leadership's title as leadership. Both management and transactional leadership hold
an emphasis for the principles of management and application of said principles in the
workplace. Transactional leadership differs with the emphasis still placed on the individuals
behind the goal. Management's focus is solely on completion of the task, transactional leadership
takes into consideration the people completing the task. Tracy (2014) writes of the importance of
transactional leaders, concluding that transactional leaders are needed in the world because of
their ability to work and guide individuals to their goal. The transactional leader functions as a
personal trainer, an encourager to complete the task that is set before an individual. Transactional
leaders are still leaders because of their ability to show their followers the importance of
themselves, and what they can accomplish. Management, however, focuses on practical matters,
such as deadlines, protocol, etc. to ensure that the goal is complete, not using the human and
their personal motivation as fuel to complete the task.
Leadership's Encouragement
Transformational leadership is defined as the charismatic individual that Satterlee (2018)
mentions in the first chapter. These charismatic leaders are the ones who inspire others, and have
a significant impact on their followers. Writers James and Posner (2007) write of the
effectiveness of such a charismatic leader: "Leaders can seize the opportunities to bring out the
best in others. . ." a transformational leader does just that, transforms their followers to be the
Leadership & Management Discussion 4
best, beyond the goal which they set out to achieve. This is a necessary trait in a leader, as it is
one of the biggest defining differences between a manager and a leader.
Booher (2011) lists practical solutions to becoming an encouraging leader, including
being attentive, being approachable, and being pleasant. What these do is encourage
relationships, which in turn makes room for personal encouragement. When a leader is active in
their follower's lives, it makes genuine support easy to accomplish.
Biblical Integration
The beginning of 1 Thessalonians 5 describes the Christians encouraging one another in
the light of the potential return of Christ. This same concept can be used for the job of a leader. A
leader is to encourage their followers to achieve their best, and to fulfill themselves through their
tasks. This is what 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV) is confirming, "Therefore encourage one another
and build one another up, just as you are doing." In order to be effective, and make it to the goal,
one must encourage another. Here, the goals are different. In leadership it could be the goal of a
task, the goal of a personal betterment, etc. In 1 Thessalonians, it is the goal of our heavenly
return. Regardless of the specific goal, it is clear that encouragement is vital to remain steadfast
and pursuant of what the individual is called to do.
Leadership & Management Discussion 5
References
Booher, D. (2011). Creating personal presence : Look, talk, think, and act like a leader. ProQuest
Ebook Central. Retrieved January, 19, 2021, from:
https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2007). The leadership challenge. ProQuest Ebook Central.
Retrieved January 19, 2021, from: https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu
Satterlee, A. (2018). Principles of Management and Leadership: A Christian Perspective (1st
ed.). New York City, NY: McGraw Hill. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from:
https://player-ui.mheducation.com/#/epub/satterle_sn#epubcfi(%2F6%2F16%5Bdata-uui
d-c5071462f4ee4aa1bee5670c6ffa357a%5D!%2F4%2F1:0)
Tracy, B. (2014). Leadership. ProQuest Ebook Central. Retrieved January 18, 2021,
from: https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu
