Processes like controlling activities and solving problems are mechanisms managers put in place to make it easy for people to complete their daily jobs. Managers use these processes to:

• Efficiently compare the behavior of the system they've organized and staffed with the original plan and budget
• If the comparison reveals a divergence from the original course, take the corrective actions necessary to get the plan back on track

The leadership processes of motivating and inspiring are quite different. Motivating and inspiring energizes people not by pushing or pulling them in the right direction, but by satisfying basic human needs for achievement — a sense of belonging, recognition, self-esteem, and having control over one's life.

Effective leaders motivate in a variety of ways.

Management skills are essential. But in response to an ever-changing economic and social marketplace, managers are increasingly being called upon to be leaders as well. As a result, the ability to lead — that is, identify a vision, align people to it, and motivate them to achieve it — has become even more critical for today's managers.