Final answer:
Option (A), The conventional distinction between managers and leaders is that managers maintain and leaders develop. Managers focus on supervision and day-to-day operations, while leaders inspire and guide toward new strategies and improvements.
Step-by-step explanation:
A conventional distinction that is often made between managers and leaders is that managers maintain, while leaders develop. Managers are more likely to focus on supervising and preserving the status quo within an organization, ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly. This includes planning, budgeting, organizing, staffing, controlling, and problem-solving. Leaders, on the other hand, are those who guide and inspire their organizations towards new horizons.
They develop new strategies, motivate and align people towards a shared vision, encourage innovation, and are willing to make changes to improve the organization. They possess qualities such as charisma, inspiration, intellectual stimulation, and consideration for others. Leadership styles can be varied, including democratic, laissez-faire, and authoritarian, each effective in different contexts.
Understanding the difference between a manager and a leader can also involve recognizing leadership styles. Democratic leaders work with their teams to build consensus and foster participation during decision-making processes. In contrast, laissez-faire leaders allow their team members more autonomy, hoping to promote self-management. Lastly, authoritarian leaders tend to be direct and firm in giving orders and assigning tasks with a strong focus on achieving goals.
This distinction falls in line with research on leadership styles within Industrial-Organizational (I-O) psychology, contrasting transactional leadership (more managerial) with transformational leadership (more visionary).