Any book in the art of management clearly states that there is a difference between managers and leaders. As per Introduction to Management by John R. Schermerhorn, management is the process of planning, organizing, leading and controlling the use of resources to accomplish performance goals. On the other hand, leadership is the process of ‘inspiring’ others to work hard to accomplish important tasks.

So what lies behind a leader’s ‘inspiration’ skills? What really makes the difference between a manager and a leader? The most commonly stated answers are drive, self-confidence, smarts, job-relevant knowledge, flexibility and credibility. Well, all that is fine, but what I have noticed really makes the difference is that leaders pass the ‘You’ll learn a lot being around me’ test, while managers don’t.

Leaders possess and can share valuable knowledge; not only job-related knowledge but more importantly life-related knowledge, what is more commonly called ‘wisdom’. A leader inspires employees because he/she gives them shortcuts to long roads; simple answers to seemingly complex questions. A leader is the guide in a corporate world where nobody has the time to show you the way.

Therefore, I have long held a motto that I can identify a leader from a single speech they give or a single meeting they conduct, because of the intensity of life-related knowledge they demonstrate. In their very short interactions, leaders have the ability to give lifetime lessons with no real effort from their ends. Managers, on the other hand, may spend years managing people without giving any valuable lessons at all.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learnt from some of the world’s greatest corporate leaders in their own words:

These are a few lessons I’ve learnt being surrounded by some leaders. You, too, will learn your own lessons. Probably, what you need to learn now is that it is important, in your work environment, to have people on your same level of expertise with whom you can share and cooperate, people who are from a lower level of expertise whom you can mentor, and leaders who are of a superior level from which you can learn. Observe them, snatch opportunities to attend their meetings, ask them for feedback, and, most importantly, learn from them.

By: Nagat Abdel Kader

 Photography: Mahmoud Mansi