Leaders inspire change, challenge norms, and foster innovation through the lens of their audience. They’re visionaries with courage to shape the ideas of the future generation.
Managers, on the other hand, minimize risk and strive for stability through the lens of their past teachings. They’re conformers to a certain standard who seek to maintain the status quo.
Leaders take responsibility. Managers want authority.
We need both in society. But there is a difference. And it’s important to remember that leaders can only lead people, not companies. Leaders are scarce and thus more valuable.
– Fantastic article on how to be a CEO from a decade’s worth of them on the New York Times