What Is Management?

Most managers have a title suggesting authority and have employees who work for them in a chain of command.  These working relationships are largely transactional.  The manager directs the employees on their team and communicates priority tasks for the day or week, the subordinate executes those tasks, and the manager supervises and approves the work.

Who is a manager?  A manager does more than acquire and wield power.  They use management skills to plan, build, and direct organizational systems in order to accomplish missions and goals.  Managers generally make sure that day-to-day operations are running smoothly according to previously established parameters.  Managers maintain the status quo. They ensure important work is done, and done well. They focus on meeting goals.

Management is not leadership, but that doesn’t make it a lesser role in an organization.  A manager can be successful without being an inspiration or paradigm-shifting thoughtful leader.  Similarly, a leader may be successful yet less skilled at managing people.