Is there a difference between managing and leading?

 

“Managers and leaders are often referred to synonymously, but only leaders allow their employees to solve problems with their own insight. The truth of the matter is this: Every leader may not be a manager, but every manager should be a leader.”

IIya Pozin

The above quote is from the article “The Difference Between Managers and Leaders” by IIya Pozin. The title caught my eye. As a manager myself, I once thought that being a manager made me a leader. I’ve learned through experience that

I like how IIya Pozin states the differences between leader and manager,

1. Managers give answers, leaders ask questions.
2. Managers criticize mistakes, leaders call attention to mistakes indirectly.
3. Managers forget to praise, leaders reward even the smallest improvement.
4. Managers focus on the bad, leaders emphasize the good.
5. Managers want credit, leaders credit their teams.

As an analytics manager in the healthcare industry, the above statements make perfect sense. Analytics is discovery and communication of meaningful patterns in data (according to Wikipedia). I’ve found that analytics is more than reports and dashboards. You must use laser focus to discover the problem to analyze, build a coalition of colleagues to seek a resolution, and convey that resolution in a simple, compelling fashion.

Great analysts, managers or not, must aspire to be leaders in their organization.