The statement “leaders set the vision and managers carry it on” is agreeable with to a great extent, though with caution because of the need to combine the skills of the two disciplines in organizational behavior. For an organization to succeed, both long term and short term goals have to be set. The goals too, need to be implemented in a systematic manner so as to realize the purpose of the organization. It is the functions of leadership that determines the vision of the organization and the direction the organization will take for success to be realized.

According to Jones (2004, p. 34) leaders tend to be focused in terms of setting the mission and the vision for the organization than managers are. Even though many theories have been devised to explain the difference between management and leadership, a good manager will need the skill of leadership in order to realize success in an organization. Similarly, a good leader will need to have the skills of management in order to lead a team. Leaders tend to operate at a level almost higher than the average human being. Mangers have been seen to have the skills of driving a team in the best way that everyone will feel appreciated.

Parry and Bryman (2006, P. 112) asserts that people who have the attributes of leaders seem to have a sense of mission. They are decisive and are able to work together with people as well as influencing people in order to realize a common purpose for the organization. Leaders also have a high level demonstration of creative problem-solving traits. These coupled with their charismatic nature has made them to be better placed to set the vision and mission for the organization.

According to Parry and Bryman (2006. P 134), managers who possess leadership qualities are better placed to realize the goals for their organizations than those who don’t have. They postulate that leadership role is to create vision and establish direction, while management role is to plan for the organization and to control the problem solving process. Looking at it in another perspective, leaders are the people in the organizations who see the big picture. Strategies for the growth of the organization are laid out by leaders. On the other hand, managers are tasked with the day to fay running of the business or the organization.

The principle here is clear; that while leaders, looks into the future and see where the organization is going, managers concern themselves with the activities of planning and budgeting which are always short term in an organization. Therefore, it will be very beneficial to an organization, if the manager they have will possess the qualities of a leader. Combining the qualities of a leader and those of a manager in an organization brings about rapid realization of results.

Some theorists have argued that leaders are born with the quality in them (Jones 2004, P. 35). They are born with the vision. The urge to achieve, therefore, burns inside them. On the other hand, managers learn the skills of management. They learn how to plan, to budget, to develop and to control incentives. Managers’ concern is the well-being of the organization. At the same time, leaders’ concern is expansion of the organization.

Even though theories have been put forward to show the differences between leadership and management, management has changed focus nowadays to forces at managers who possess leadership qualities. A combination of the two sets of skills is desirable for the realization of organizational goals.

References

Parry, KW & Bryman, A. (2006). Leadership in organizations (2^nd ed). In: S Clegg. Et al. Sage Handbook of organizational studies.

Thomas, N. (2004). The John Adair handbook of management and leadership. London: John Adair.