Management Rules: 50 New Rules for Managers

CHAPTER 50

MANAGEMENT OR LEADERSHIP?

What is the difference between management and leadership? Do not write your answers on both sides of the paper at the same time.

The simple answer is that leadership sells more books. People think leadership is more aspirational than management. That is a shame, because management is at least as important and in many ways it is more difficult than leadership.

Leaders may dream the dream, lead the revolution and change the world. But before and after the revolution you need cohorts of managers who know how to make the system work: they can make the trains run on time and ensure the rubbish is collected. For every inspiring leader, you need dozens of perspiring managers who convert the dream into reality. Managers ...