Introduction The definitions of such concepts as nursing leadership and management differ from one author to another because of their interconnectedness and complexity. While some argue that all nursing managers have to have leadership qualities to successfully organize and monitor everyday operations, others state that the roles of managers and leaders may vary (Marquis & Huston, 2017). Nevertheless, the distinction between these two positions exists in literature, which shows that nurses need to understand their responsibilities and qualities to move forward in their career. Nurses without managing authority may show leadership qualities, while others may fail to be leaders of their team even while occupying a higher position. The Differences in Roles of Managers and Leaders Nursing managers and leaders can be divided according to the activities they perform in the organization. According to Marquis and Huston (2017), the management process includes controlling and work-related functions such as creating plans, recruiting new employees, or enforcing and maintaining a particular structure. These actions are covered by managers’ duties as professionals, which makes it a specific occupation. Scully (2015) also argues that management is a profession with a focus on systems and structures and not people. A nursing manager has the power given to him/her by appointment – a source of official authority. It is a position that requires specific characteristics as it is a stressful and demanding job (Keys, 2014). Managers help the organization to set and fulfill short-term goals by ensuring that every activity and procedure follows the established order. On the other hand, a nursing leader does not have to have authority as an employee. This person possesses qualities that encourage others to follow him/her regardless of his/her position in the organization. To be recognized as a leader, a nurse needs to possess a set of specific qualities. While the manager’s attention is devoted to the facility’s structure, nurse leaders highlight the role of people in the organization (Scully, 2015). They inspire others to develop and share progressive ideas, maintain the group’s vision and objectives to be consistent with that of the organization, and show their passion for change to motivate others. These and similar features separate leaders from other workers and highlight them as people who are prepared to take on more responsibilities. Therefore, such qualities may contribute to these individuals becoming effective managers as well. Leaders may be more focused on the organization’s long-term achievements with their holistic outlook. Examples In real life, people may not possess the necessary qualities and authoritative power to be both managers and leaders. In my practice, there were several instances where a nurse had performed only one of the two roles. A nurse manager at one of my previous places of work was in constant conflict with other employees because of her attitude towards them. It is possible that she did not possess the essential leadership qualities to motivate her subordinates to work as a team. The lack of communication and feedback affected nurses’ level of co