Ask the expert: What is the difference between management and leadership?

Simply stated, leadership is the act of getting things done through other people. However, doing so is not always simple. Leadership is different than management in several ways, including:

• Management focuses on efficiency (i.e., “doing things right”) whereas leadership focuses on effectiveness (i.e., “doing the right things”).
• Management is about getting things done, whereas leadership focuses on what needs to be done and why.
• Management deals with systems and structure, whereas leadership is about relationships and engaging with people.
• Management stresses consistency and control, whereas leadership requires creativity, innovation, and “out-of-the-box” thinking.
• Managers are concerned about the results and the bottom line, whereas leaders see the need to look over the horizon and have a vision

In the changing world of healthcare, there is clearly a need for both. The question is not “Am I a leader or a manager?” but rather “How do I develop both dimensions in my role as I work with staff on a daily basis?”

This week’s question and answer are excerpted from Assessing your Medical Staff Office: Tools for Productivity by Beverly E. Pybus, CPMSM and Nancy Lian, CPCS, CPMSM.