Leader versus manager: Lessons from top business executives

Abstract

Purpose: This article discusses the key differences between leadership and management. It also examines the business organizational executive’s leadership styles of seven selected top executives: Donald Trump, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Jack Ma, and Tony Fernandez. Research methodology: The methodological approach of the study focuses on the review of published literature postulating on the differences in the characteristics and functions of leadership and management. Results: Findings from the literature review indicate evidence that shows the differences and similarities between these two concepts of leaders and managers or leadership and management. The study also reveals that these top business executives demonstrated the contemporary leadership paradigms of transformational, charismatic, and servant leadership. Limitations: One limitation is the review approach of the paper. The other is the analysis of leadership styles based on those top executives from the business sector. Contributions: The article provides insights into the understanding of the evolvement of organizational management and the preferred leadership styles of top business executives. The findings on the leadership styles of the top business leaders add to the significance of the study.

Transformational Leadership: A Comparative Exploration of the Leadership Prowess of Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs

“…Although both leaders are categorized as transformational, their practices and methods differ substantially, offering an opportunity to understand the spectrum within the transformational leadership style [41,42]. Jobs was known for his charismatic and sometimes abrasive leadership style, marked by a strong vision and a demanding approach to innovation while Bezos, on the other hand, is recognized for his customer-centric approach, long-term strategic thinking, and willingness to experiment and embrace failure [42].…”

“…Steve Jobs, the co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc., occupies a prominent place in the pantheon of visionary leaders. His distinctive leadership style, characterized by a multitude of unique traits and behaviors, warrants examination and appreciation [42].…”

“…Bezos' leadership is characterized by an unrelenting focus on customer satisfaction. His mantra, "Start with the customer and work backward," has not only shaped Amazon's business model but has also become a guiding principle for the entire organization [42]. One of Bezos' most defining leadership traits is his penchant for long-term vision which was a hallmark of his transformational leadership, informing his constant forgoing of short-term profits, to invest in ambitious projects that might not yield immediate returns such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Kindle e-reader [53].…”

E-leadership and adaptation to technological development of telecommunication businesses in Ghana

“…Management's ability to properly share information with the use of ICT results in employee empowerment and organizational stability. This in turn enhances top management's ability to integrate these ICT developments into the organizational mission and strategic goals (Chinomona, 2013;Chow, 2020;Eke & Kenebara, 2020;Olusola, Usman, Aina-David, & Yinus, 2013).…”

Cultivating emerging leadership competencies for individual and organizational success

“…According to Iordanoglou (2018), new ways of conceptualizing leadership and developing future leaders are needed as we enter into an unfolding future" (p. 118). Chow (2020) stressed that leadership practices need to reflect the times' realities ' (p. 54). Arimie (2019) asserts, "The kind of leadership style exhibited by the employer will either drive or negatively affect the level of engagement in the organization."…”