Leading or Managing: The Lights and Shadows of Organizational Impact
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71112/xvpaz064Keywords:
Leadership, management, positive leadership, toxic leadership, transformational leadership, transactional leadershipAbstract
Leadership is a decisive factor within organizations. Unlike a manager, who focuses on processes, a leader mobilizes emotions and builds culture, although both roles often overlap. Organizational impact depends on how authority is exercised: while transformational leadership fosters innovation and sustainability, transactional leadership can create cold and demotivating environments.
Positive leadership drives personal growth, whereas toxic leadership erodes institutional trust. Ultimately, success is not measured solely by goals achieved, but by collective identity and the well-being of followers. This essay proposes integrating a transformative vision with efficient management. Only by prioritizing both results and the human factor can ethical, sustainable institutions be built to transcend the short term.
Downloads
References
Akinyele, A. I. & Chen, Z. (2024). Dark clouds of leadership: causes and consequences of toxic leadership. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00208825.2024.2442185
Agazu, B. G., Kero, C. A. & Debela, K. L. (2025). Transformational leadership and firm performance: a systematic literature review. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13731-025-00476-x
Agaga, G., Abdelmoetyc, Z. H., Aboul-Dahabe, S., Daherf, M., Sharkasig, N., Tahah, E., Yousafi, A. & Abdelwahab, M. (2025). A cross-cultural meta-analysis of transformational leadership-performance outcomes relationship. Retrieved form https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00208825.2025.2566556?scroll=top&needAccess=true
Azila-Gbettor, E. M., Honyenuga, B. Q., Atatsi, E. A. Ayertso Laryea, C.N. & Konadu Quarshie, A. N. (2024). Reviewing the influence of positive leadership on worker well-being: A comprehensive analysis. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024001658
Berzosa, A. & Ganguly, A. (2025). Toxic leadership and its impact on organizational competitiveness and sustainability a case study approach. Retrieved form https://ijrar.org/papers/IJRAR25A1868.pdf
Bevilacqua, S., Masárová, J., Perotti, F. A. & Ferraris, A. (2025). Enhancing top managers' leadership with artificial intelligence: insights from a systematic literature review. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11846-025-00836-7
Busch, C. (2024). Towards a theory of serendipity: a systematic review and conceptualization. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/joms.12890
Budworth, M. H. & Latham, G. P. (2025). The feedforward interview: An innovative approach to performance appraisal. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0090261624000470
Hall, J., Johnson, S., Wysocki, A., Kepner, K., Farnsworth, D., & Clark, J. L. (2019). Transformational Leadership: The Transformation of Managers and Associates. Retrieved from https://campus.unad.us/Season2026B/pluginfile.php/1434/mod_resource/content/1/art.pdf
Hieng, S., Hum, C., Soeung, S., Sam, R., Phorn, P. & Vy, S. (2024). Transactional leadership style in higher educations: a systematic literature review https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387592861_Transactional_Leadership_Style_in_Higher_Educations_A_Systematic_Literature_Review
Lu, H. S. (2025). A review of leadership needed in nonprofits: transformational leadership. Retrieved from https://ijebmr.com/uploads/pdf/archivepdf/2025/IJEBMR_1536.pdf
Marqués, J. & Dhiman, S. (2017). Leadership Today: Practices for Personal and Professional Performance. Retrieved from https://campus.unad.us/Season2026B/pluginfile.php/1390/mod_resource/content/1/TEXTO%201.pdf
Mumford, M. D., Marks, M. A., Connelly, M. S., Zaccaro, S. J. & Reiter-Palmon, R. (2000). Development of leadership skills: experience and timing. Retrieved form https://goal-lab.psych.umn.edu/orgpsych/readings/13.%20Leadership/Mumford,%20Marks,%20Connelly,%20Zaccaro,%20&%20Reiter-Palmon%20(2000)-%20Development%20of%20leadership%20skills-%20Experience%20and%20timing.pdf
Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership Theory and Practice. Retrieved form https://url-shortener.me/ADEA
Northam, S. W., Hipps, M. L. & Mbaye, H. A. D. (2023). Principles of leadership. Retrieved from https://ung.edu/university-press/_uploads/files/principles-of-leadership.pdf
Quaquebeke, N. V. & Gerpott, F. H. (2023). The now, new, and next of digital leadership: how artificial intelligence (AI) will take over and change leadership as we know it. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/15480518231181731
Riaz A., Shinwari, W. K., Khan, N. A., Jamil, S. A. & Khurshid, A. (2025). Level 5 leadership (L5L) scale development and validation. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11135-025-02342-0
Rockwell, C. T. (2021). Transformational and Transactional Leadership. Retrieved form https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349324153_Transformational_and_Transactional_Leadership
Shahid, A. (2024). Transformational Leadership: ¿Are Leaders Open to a New “CALL”? Challenges, Adaptation, Leadership and Learning. Retrieved from https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=136799
Udchachone, S., Udin, U. & Zumitzavan, V. (2025). Exploring toxic leadership in organizations through comprehensive bibliometric analysis. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-025-02360-w
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Elvis Humberto Tabares Quintero (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
