What characteristic distinguishes a leader from a manager in the military context?

In the military context, the characteristic that distinguishes a leader from a manager is the influence over people and direction. While managers often focus on processes, compliance, and procedures, leaders are primarily concerned with guiding, inspiring, and motivating individuals or teams to achieve a common goal. Leadership involves building relationships, fostering trust, and creating a vision, which enables leaders to influence others more effectively.

The military setting requires individuals to not only manage resources and tasks but also to lead soldiers in a way that engages them emotionally and intellectually. This influence is critical, particularly in high-stakes environments where the effectiveness of a team can significantly impact mission success. Thus, leadership in this context is about imparting direction and purpose, ensuring that all members are aligned with the overall objectives, and encouraging them to perform at their best.