Post an analysis of the similarities and differences between leadership and management as they relate to social work organizations. Then, consider the fact that a manager is not necessarily a leader. Describe how someone in a management role might become a leader as well.

Resources

• Northouse, P. G. (2024). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice (6th ed.). SAGE.
  • Chapter 1, "Understanding Leadership" (pp. 1-11)
• Forbes Coaches Council. (2017, November 20). What makes a good leader? Key differences between management and leadershipLinks to an external site.. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/11/20/what-makes-a-good-leader-key-differences-between-management-and-leadership/?sh=4ded5924daf5
• Hurst, T. E., & Hurst, P. W. (2017). White bear syndrome: Recognizing potential roadblocks in transitioning from practitioner to leaderLinks to an external site..Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance,41(4), 438-447. https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2017.1281857
• Vito, R. (2020). How do social work leaders understand and ideally practice leadership? A synthesis of core leadership practicesLinks to an external site.. Journal of Social Work Practice, 34(3), 263-279. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2019.1665002

Then provide responses to these posts below: Explain whether you agree or disagree with your colleague's analysis of the similarities and differences between leadership and management.

• Explain whether you agree or disagree with your colleague's explanation of how a manager could become a leader.
• Thoroughly support each of your explanations with concepts, theory, and principles from the assigned Learning Resources.

Post 1

Hello Class,

In social work organizations, leadership and management share the goal of supporting clients and communities, but they differ in both approach and impact. Managers primarily focus on structure, policy implementation, and day-to-day operations. In their tactical roles, they ensure that tasks are completed, resources are allocated, and compliance is maintained. Leaders, on the other hand, are visionary. They set direction, inspire change, and cultivate group cohesion. While managers direct workflow, leaders influence culture and push innovation.

Leadership in social work is guided by ethical decision making, professional competence, and a commitment to core values such as service, social justice, and integrity (NASW Code of Ethics, 2021). These principles shape how social workers lead with empathy, accountability, and a focus on empowerment. Building on this foundation, a key distinction emerges: management is often positional, while leadership is relational and transformational. According to Forbes (2017), leadership takes time to cultivate and doesn't happen overnight. It requires self-awareness, adaptability, and a commitment to growth. In social work, leadership is deeply tied to values and ethics, empowerment, vision, and communication (Vito, 2020). These elements may not always be present in traditional management roles, but they can be developed over time.

A manager can become a leader by shifting from a task-oriented, command and control mindset to one rooted in collaboration, influence, and vision. According to Project Manager (2018), managers typically focus on execution and oversight, while leaders inspire change by setting direction and motivating others through shared purpose. This transition requires emotional intelligence, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace discomfort as part of growth. In social work, embodying leadership means practicing ethical decision making, empowerment, and clear communication, core elements that transform not just organizations, but also the communities they serve and populations they impact.

Post 2

Leaders and managers have distinct roles within an organization. Leaders are the ones that set the vision and drive the overall tone of the organization, and the managers focus on organizing and executing tasks to achieve specific objectives. Leaders help inspire and guide others towards a shared goal, whereas managers focus on planning, organizing, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals. Leadership and management have similar characteristics such as influence, guidance, planning, strategy, motivation, and empowerment. Influence and guidance involve influencing and guiding individuals towards achieving common goals. Planning and strategy require planning and developing strategies to achieve objectives in leadership and management. Motivation and empowerment involve motivating and empowering individuals to work towards their goals. Other similarities leadership and management share include communication and decision-making. Whereas both roles require effective communication to convey goals and expectations, and during the decision-making process both roles guide the organization towards success. Azad et. Al (2017) says, "leadership is the quality that sets great managers apart from good ones," further validates this idea as it is simply an illustration of the lexical concept of polysemy." In the text, the authors define leadership as "a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal" (Northouse, 2024).

Describe how someone in a management role might become a leader as well.

To become a leader in a management role the individual should focus on developing leadership skills and traits. An individual in a management role can become a leader by refraining from micromanaging by providing autonomy to employees and trust their ability to think freely. Autonomy can increase engagement and productivity. Being honest and transparent about what you do not know can build trust and relationships.