Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

The aphorism draws a sharp distinction between two complementary functions in organizations. “Management” is framed as operational excellence: executing processes efficiently, meeting standards, and optimizing resources—doing tasks correctly. “Leadership,” by contrast, is presented as normative and strategic: choosing the right goals, priorities, and values—deciding what ought to be done in the first place. The line implies that flawless execution can still be misguided if the underlying aims are wrong, and that leadership’s primary responsibility is direction and judgment rather than technique. It has become influential in business education because it succinctly captures the difference between efficiency (means) and effectiveness (ends).

1) “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right thing.”
2) “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”