Comparison between roles and characteristics of leader and manager

This study compares the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in the context of Barclays Plc. It discusses the differences in their approaches to change, risk, and skill development. It also evaluates different theories and models of leadership.

Management and Operations

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Comparison between different roles and characteristics of leader and manager....................3
LO2..................................................................................................................................................5
P2 Role of leader and function of the manager in different situational contexts ........................5
P3 Critically evaluate different theories and models ..................................................................7
PART 1............................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Management and operation are considered one of the most essential business
development parameters that supports to lead high profitability in the business. Management is
the strategic approach of the business that helps to lead high change with business to meet
demand of global market. Management is responsible to align all business operations effectively
so that organization achieves it’s all goals within timeframe. To understand role of management
and operations has an example of Barclays Plc company. It is a British Multinational investment
bank that offers retail and financial services. It is headquartered in London, England, UK which
is designed into four businesses such as personal banking, corporate banking, wealth
management and investment management. The brief study discusses about roles of leader and
manager within organization and will discuss about change management, performance models
work within business.
LO 1
P1 Comparison between different roles and characteristics of leader and manager
Leadership and management both formulate a comprehensive part in the overall operation
of the Barclays Bank and fulfilment of the different aspects that are associated with the overall
functions. Leadership can be defined as that capability of an individual or a group of them where
they lead or guide the individuals towards the achievement of common goals and objectives by
developing a clear vision and objectives. A leader is a person who carries out or implements the
leadership policies and coordinates the different activities so that the overall goals can be
achieved (Worline and Dutton, 2017). The management on the other hand is related more with
the organisation aspect where different activities are coordinated together so that the goals and
objectives of the organisation can be achieved. A manager is the person who supervises and
manages all the functions and activities that are going on in a business (Sobratee and Bodhanya,
2018).
The difference between the roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager in
Barclays Bank can be evaluated in following manner:
Basis Leader Manager
Change The leaders in Barclays Bank are Managers on the other hand focus

innovative in their approach where
they tend to identify the changes
i.e. they act as change agents.
on the maintaining of status quo
where they tend to stick with the
normal working systems and
structures.
Risk The leaders are more of risk takers
as they venture into the unknown
and are more inclined to view
failure as a step to success (Pardey,
2016).
The managers at Barclays Bank put
efforts towards risk minimisation
and they try to either control or
minimise the overall problems that
an organisation faces.
Skill
development
The leaders at Barclays Bank aim
towards learning something new
every day and they are always
curious to know and seek. This
helps them in their personal growth
comprehensively.
The managers in Barclays Bank are
the ones who tend to rely more on
the proven skills and try to identify
the characteristics that makes them
successful rather than venturing
into something new (Streich, 2016).
The differences between the manager and leader are segregated for the Barclays Bank but the
overall difference in the functions of leaders and managers are also prominent. There are
different functions that are performed by the managers in Barclays Bank such as:
 Planning: As per this function, the managers focus on the comprehensive planning
related to the different aspects of the organisations such as developing mission, vision,
strategies etc. for Barclays Bank. This helps the organisation in developing better
strategies collectively.
 Organising: Under this function, the managers of the Barclays Bank tend to manage and
organise the different activities that are performed in the organisation on a day to day
basis (Western, 2019). The matching and balancing of the different resources help in
identifying the priority activities and hence better accomplishment of the objectives that
have been developed.
 Controlling: Controlling function involves ensuring that all the activities are performed
and completed as per the planning that was done. The managers at Barclays Bank ensure

that they are aware of all the activities that are taking place and regular monitoring
practices are implemented.
 Directing: The directing functions of the managers help them in communicating clear
goals and objectives that have been developed so that the goals and objectives that have
been developed by the Barclays Bank can be accomplished successfully (Hunt and
Weintraub, 2016).
The leaders in Barclays Bank on the other hand have a separate set of functions. These can be
evaluated using the Adair’s leadership model in following manner:
 Task: The leaders at the Barclays Bank tend to focus on the achievement of the different
tasks that have been set up where the focus is on the completion of the different tasks that
have been set up and the resources that are required for the accomplishment of such tasks.
 Team: The team aspect discusses that the role of leaders in Barclays Bank is also related
to the team development where the communication ad coordination must be key the areas
of focus. This helps in supporting the different individuals working together in a team
(Azad and et.al., 2017).
 Individual: The last function of leaders at Barclays Bank is to develop the employees on
an individual basis as well where the proper direction and motivation, making them
comfortable with changes etc. are the key areas of focus.
The three functions are linked with the core functions of leader i.e. to organize, coordinate,
motivate and direct, initiate etc.
Therefore, in this manner the role and characteristics of leaders and managers are different in
Barclays Bank.
LO2
P2 Role of leader and function of the manager in different situational contexts
Role of managers in solving conflicts in an organization
Conflict occurs between the people of the group or team in any situation. In an
organization there are wide number of people and all are different. The method of solving the
conflicts determine either it is productive or not (Mash, 2018). The manager in an organization

plays an important role in solving the conflict in the positive way so that is might result in
productive conflict.
Managers thought their employees about the development and transformation of
organization (Thompson and Glasø, 2018). Manager identifies the ability of employees and
motivate them. Conflict management is the ability, that mangers should apply during the
conflicts, which results in the productive way. A manager creates an environment of the
cooperation and teamwork. Manger helps in resolving conflicts by motivating their employees
and also give them proper direction for the task given. A manager makes a positive compromise
between the disputes.
Managers cannot hesitate to put the issue during conflicts. Managers is able to remove
the personal or mix feeling instead, has to focus on the team during the conflicts. Manager listens
carefully to the point of conflicts and also resolve it with full efficiency (Angelova, 2017).
Manager can also take various decision in resolving the conflicts and it is mandatory for all the
employees to follow. Leader should make an effective team, which may results in the
productivity of the company. Effective mangers knows how to bring an conflict to the productive
way. They manage the conflict which further results in an opportunity for future productive
relationship.
Change management
Change management is another situation that helps to bring change within company as
per the busines situations. It also supports to minimize risks and improves productivity of the
business operation in it’s global market (Azad and et.al., 2017). Barclays keeps constant change
in it’s new technologies that has improved cost of financial services as result selling behaviour of
customer decreses. To overcome this issues manager of Barclays practices contingency
management theory to lead change successful within company as well as reduces cost of new
technologies by developing effective strategy for the marketing department. While leaders help
company in motivating staff to bring change in their practices successfully as result profitability
can be achieved (Steinbach and et.al., 2017).
Performance management situation

It is another situation of organization wherein employees are not performed as well. To
deal with situation manager and leader practices different roles (Sobratee and Bodhanya, 2018).
For example, Management of Barclays plc practices contempory management theory to elect
talented staff within organization. Performance management is also another systematic approach
that uses by managers of Barclays to measure individual’s performance while dealing with task.
With this approach manager determine high skilful employees who can lead high productivity
within business operations. On the hand, leaders monitor all employee’s performance by
assigning number of task and inspires them to give best performance at the working place
(Reiche, Bird, Mendenhall and Osland, 2017). Apart from this leader helps manager to give
realistic information about individuals performance.
P3 Critically evaluate different theories and models
There are different leadership theories and models and approaches are mentioned below:
Situational leadership style
Situational leadership is stated that a leader adjusts their style accordingly situation and
inspires group of people or individuals to put all efforts towards common goals (Delegach and
et.al., 2017). This leadership style comprises four type styles such as telling, selling,
participating and delegating. As per the concept of situational leadership, the prior role of leaders
is that they must understand needs of employer and employees then they can select appropriate
leadership style. The operation management of Barclays plc practices the situation leadership
style to deal with various type of situation that faces by employer and employees. For example,
currently Barclays plc faces employee’s resistance within organization to accept change. In that
state operation management practices telling leadership style and improves technical skills of
employees and negotiates them to accept change. thus, operation management deal with the
situation effectively. The major drawback of the situational leadership is that it requires good
analytical skills in leaders or managers then they can adapt appropriate leadership style to deal
with situation (Kerns, 2016). There are four different types of situational leadership which are
described as Directing, coaching, supporting and delegating.
Directing- This is the basic level of situational leadership. This states that the employess of the
company needs a more directive style of leadership as they are very formative in their new job

role. In this kind leader needs to pay more attention towards the task rather than to nuild
relationship, as relationships yet not exist.
Coaching- This style is for followers who have developed some competence along with their
improvement in commitment. At this time also leader needs tofocus on tasks which still reequire
commitment but now the focus can now expand in developing relationship with the employee,
building on the trust that has began to develop and encouragement that has demonstrated.
Supporting- This type addresses followers who are now competent at the job but somewhat is not
fully committed and is inconsistent. The leader must participate and must support its followers
and no longer focus on task assigned and focus more on relationship among the followers,
groups .
Delegating – Ultimate goal is to create followers who are fully empowered and are competent
enough to take the task and complete the same. Leader delegates the task to the followers with
very low focus on task and also on relationship
Contingency theory
It is known as organization theory that allows company to bring change in the
organizational policies accordingly situations (Early, 2017). This theory help managers or
leaders to lead advancement in decision-making skills and leadership skills as well. With this
theory manager can create management objectives that will resolve all issues associated with
business operations and improves performance of business in it’s sector. Managers of Barclays
practices this theory within organisation to take effective decisions. It also supports managers to
build good relationship with employees. It also posses’ some limitations such as uncertainty in
leadership roles due to high availability of leadership styles.
System leadership
System leadership can be defined as the set of skills that usages by leaders or managers to
influence and supports the system to bring high level of change within company. It comprises
two type leadership styles such as collaborative and system leadership which creates productivity
in the organization’s action (Kark, Van Dijk and Vashdi, 2018). This leadership approach is
generally implemented by organization to keep control on individuals working and enables them

to perform their actions accordingly business requirements. Managers of Barclays plc practices
system leadership to bring change in their operations of the business and develops new strategies
to reduce cost of financial services so that purchasing behaviour of customers increases. Thus,
system leadership approach supports company to influence quality of working in employees
within workplace. the major drawback of the system leadership approach is that it is time-
consuming process.
PART 1
(LO3 & LO4 Covered in ppt)
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that top-level management of Barclays should always consider the
actual concept of operations management, because it is very necessary to this company for
gaining huge profit margins within the UK’s baking sector. Existing management of this
company should properly understand this thing that, competition within UK’s baking sector is
regularly increasing. In this situation, with the support of operations management Barclays will
be enabled to achieve great competitive advantage within the market. The company need to
always focus on providing quality services, because this is the only way to company for
attracting large number of customers.

REFERENCES
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