In understanding the dynamics of leadership and management in an organization, one must assume a holistic view and define the roles and interactions of at least three operators in the organization:

1) Contributors provide specific skills and work effort to accomplish tasks, usually associated with a team project, to address customer needs;

2) Managers assemble the best teams possible and coach these teams to performance on the projects by leveraging Contributor skills, interests, work styles, and growth paths, to maintain the long-term health of the workforce;

3) named Leaders are responsible for the setting of Vision, Aligning that vision across multiple areas within the organization, and Enabling the Managers and Contributors to meet customer needs by providing the resources necessary to do so.

One reference for the Leader principle mentioned here is Julie Straw, et al., 2012 Work of Leaders (Wiley); although the tenets of this approach date back to Greenleaf's 1982 classic on Servant Leadership (and probably before that).

The ‘most trusted adviser’ for SMEs is their accountant (Bennett and Robson 1999; Blackburn et al. 2010). This status has been understood to be a primary reason why, in addition to their financial services, small and mediumsized accountancy practices (SMPs) routinely give advice to their SME clients on a wide range of topics, including taxation, financial management/budgeting, succession and debt administration (Marriott and Marriott 2000). There is also some evidence of and interest in the provision of advice on more general business topics such as administrative routines; organisational issues; human resource management; salary administration and training; marketing and strategic planning; and health and safety (Gooderham et al. 2004; Dyer and Ross 2007; Blackburn and Jarvis 2010; Hasle et al. 2010; Jarvis and Rigby 2011).

See also a good thread attached.

http://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/acca/global/PDF-technical/small-business/rr-128-001.pdf

http://nbs.net/wp-content/uploads/NBS-SME-Challenges-2013.pdf

http://www.cimaglobal.com/Documents/Thought_leadership_docs/Sustainability%20and%20Climate%20Change/Management-control_NZICA.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_should_be_the_responsibility_of_leaders_in_developing_sustainable_strategies_in_the_SME_sector

In SME role of leader is very critical as he works as main anchoring point for all functions of management . 

A good challenge would be to compare the theory on leadership with that of entrepreneurship, distinguishing between the SMEs that are managed by the entrepreneurs and those managed by managers, to see if there are distinctions.

I'm actually interested on this topic, with an empirical analysis in both countries!

Dear @Katarzyna, I find this paper very relevant for your research.

There are many available resources in RG publications data base about sustainable business development in SME and the role of leadership in. Follow second link.

https://www.researchgate.net/search.Search.html?query=the%20role%20of%20leadership%20in%20sustainable%20business%20development%20in%20SME&type=publication&tabViewId=568279756225ff911a8b457c&page=2

Conference Paper An Exploratory Study of Factors Affecting the Sustainability...

You can read the book of john kotter "what leaders really do?"

This thread brings up a good point about the definition of "sustainability."  From a purely financial perspective, sustainability can mean the maintenance (preferably growth) of the fiscal value of the company.  From a human perspective, it might mean the number of happy customers and fulfilled contributors (managers and leaders included) as a result of company effort (fiscal stability would be necessary only to keep the doors open).

As to an earlier point about leaders, leadership is a set of qualities that can be found at any level of the organization - contributors, managers, and named leaders - and can and should be fluid in response to corporate needs. 

You can be interested into the attached article.

Regards,

MV

Dear Katarzyna,

Although there are several perspectives of defining "sustainability", the essence is related to the organic development of the company in a dynamic equilibrium with its external business environment and natural environment. Sustainability implies vision and competitive advantage, which means strategic thinking and leadership.

While leadership is concerned with the strategic vision, management is concerned with the operational decision making. Both of them have the role integrating all necessary resources and capabilities to produce goods and services able to bring a sustainable competitive advantage. Leaders and managers are "organizational integrators" which means field of forces able to create synergy. Leaders influence their subordinates mostly by using emotional and spiritual knowledge and intelligences, while managers use mostly rational knowledge and intelligences.

I attached a flyer with my recently published book about organizational knowledge dynamics which contains a good part of the answer to your question.

Wishing you good luck and a Happy New Year!

Constantin

Constantin, Thank you very much for your answer; it's very accurate and helpful observation;

With the best wishes, Katarzyna

Thank You All for yours helpful answers;

With the best wishes; Katarzyna

Dear Katarzyna

Please see the website of Micro Enterprise Development Programme (www.medep.org.np) Government of Nepal/ UNDP for relevent materials for sustainable business.

With best regards.

Kiran

Dear Katarzyna

Kindly check the attached articles.

The leadership is the key for sustainable development. IN SMEs, changes start from top and a qualified leadership can bring the SME furter by using strategical tools...

https://scholar.google.com.tr/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=tr&user=Gwu_jNsAAAAJ&citation_for_view=Gwu_jNsAAAAJ:IjCSPb-OGe4C

The Manager/leader in SMEs are to provide overall direction and vision on how the business should be run working with the rest of the team. He/She is responsible to ensure that the business remains competitive and that its strategies are executed in ways that guarantees continuous growth of the business. 

the key role of a manager or  leader to set up a appropriate vision for their SMEs and he or she responsible to the following key role decision related with their  business  create strategies, monitoring and evaluating business activities in proper way    

Dear Katarzyna,

I think leadership is the key driver in the case of SMEs

They set example related to the fulfilment of work and rules, written or unwritten;  communicate expectations clearly and expose their criteria and values;  talk about ethical or social responsibility. Another key aspect is the exercise of responsibility by the leader in establishing the business objectives, and how the goals are transferred to the rest of the organization. He/She is usually the driver of many of the initiatives on ethics and CSR.

We have made an exploratory study with a number of SMEs in Spain and found some interesting issues.

Hope that is useful

Best regards,

Javier C.

Article Effective Elements to Establish an Ethical Infrastructure: A...

Understanding Enterprise Entrepreneurship development& small business management , Book published  Simon Bridge & Ken o 'Neill    provide some clear idea for SME related netters 

There would be a great slip if the micromanage everywhere, in a SME.

To observe and control very closely the work of employees by controlling very carefully the work of every employee they gain more productivity, but creates frustration and demotivation resulting in loss of new ideas and innovation and very soon employees will leave the business in a search for a better company mostly to competitors.

Dear Katarzyna Szczepańska-Woszczyna 

Greetings,

Please find the attached file about your topic may be helpful for you,

Best Regards,

@Constantin. insightful comment and thanks for sharing the flyer

Role of manager / leader in sustainable business development in SMEs is more than products, people and profits. 

They must promote innovation and lead the organization in multiple frontiers. To that regard, you may find the following articles useful and insightful. Take a look...

Article Development of Innovative Products in a Small and Medium Siz...

Article What Management Style is Considered Best for Team-Based Orga...

http://jem.pb.edu.pl/data/magazine/article/516/en/szczepanska_kurowska.pdf

http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:4945/fulltext01.pdf

https://www.kulturstudier.no/m/files/CSR/csr3.pdf

Include controlling of technical factors, economic, social, and economic influences that changes the employees attitude to work .

I agree with Dr. Subhash.

Regards!

Adel