In the Simplest Form, Leadership is the WHY and Management is the HOW
Similar But Different
Perhaps you think that a manager is also a leader, and leadership is also management. That’s not the case. Whilst there are some overlaps between the work that a manager and a leader do, the terms have different meanings. Defining leadership and management is key to effectively executing the tasks and duties of such.
Critical to Know the Difference
For the employers in an organisation, it is critical to know the difference between a leader and a manager. If they expect a leader to be a manager and the other way around, they will step into confusion, disagreements, and dissatisfaction. If they have a clear understanding of the difference between leadership and management, and the importance of the different roles, they will work in perfect balance with why they do what they do and how they do it.
To Clarify – Let’s Dive into the Definition:
Leadership – is the WHY
Leadership is the process of how to set a goal/target and then influencing, motivating, and inspiring individual, teams, and larger groups, so they are motivated to reach the goal/target by their autonomy.
Related reading: For even more useful content on leadership, check out our ultimate guide on Leadership Skills.
Management – is the HOW
Management is the process of how to organise the goals/targets into production. The management role is to organise, administrate and make sure individuals, teams, and groups complete all the necessary tasks, step by step, at the right time.
Similarities and Differences in Leadership and Management Skills
To further understand the definition of leadership and management let’s check out the 10 different and the 10 similar skills.
10 Different Skills:
| Leaders: | Managers: |
| 1. Set the Direction | Set the Productions |
| 2. Focus on People | Focus on organization |
| 3. Inspiring the People | Planning the people |
| 4. Influence the People | Organise the people |
| 5. Motivate the people | Direct the people’s tasks |
| 6. Build value | Build stability |
| 7. Create opportunities | Create orders |
| 8. Count people | Count production |
| 9. Celebrate mastery | Celebrate results |
| 10. Designing the future | Designing the present |
1. Leaders Set the Directions – Managers Set the Productions
Leaders set the direction through values, mission, and vision statements. They set goals/targets for the whole organisation. However, leaders are not alone in responsibility. The manager’s key role is to take goals and targets into action and start production.
2. Leaders are Inspiring the People – Managers Plan the People
Leaders inspire people to understand the reason why they need to do what they do and what the specific benefits will be. Managers are experts in planning the people and bringing every puzzle brick into the right place, in other words, bringing the right people to the right place at the right time.
3. Leaders Focus on the People – Managers Focus on the Organisation
Leaders have a laser focus on people simply because they have the responsibility to lead them. Managers have their number one focus on how to organise the staff, from the macro to micro level. This is because they have the responsibility to keep track of the organisation.
4. Leaders Influence the People – Managers Organise the Work
It is an important role for every leader to become an influencer. Perhaps not that kind of influencer you associate with the social media, more like a front leader and solo artist that can lead the people forward. At the same time and same level, the managers take care of how to organise the work, so the show can go on.
5. Leaders Motivate the People – Managers Direct the People’s Tasks
Motivation is the human driving force behind all action and therefore a necessary skill for a leader to comprehend. A good leader can motivate people. A good manager has the critical skills to direct the people’s tasks to provide production and fulfilment of the company’s goals and direction.
6. Leaders Build Value – Manager Build Stability
Value systems are listed as the root causes of all behaviour and are tightly linked to motivation. Therefore, leaders build value aligned with motivation. Managers are more like insurance companies. They bring stability and order so the value and motivation can come to life and follow the production line.
7. Leaders Create Opportunities – Managers Create Orders
Opportunities are like business core stones. A leader seeks new opportunities to take the business further into the future. Managers have the authority and skills to take the opportunity “down to earth” and bring it into production by orders.
8. Leaders Count People – Managers Count Results
For every organisation, all numbers are important for several reasons. The numbers give data and facts. A leader prefers to count people in a way to fulfil the vision and mission. Whereas, a manager prefers to count results to make sure they align with the organisation’s target.
9. Leaders Celebrate Mastery – Managers Celebrate Results
As an important step of human development, a leader celebrates mastery, on macro and micro levels. They make sure that mastery is the ultimate proof that an individual or a group has achieved high performance. No matter if the results have given proven results yet or not. The manager is more likely to celebrate hardcore facts that show up in for example productions or sales numbers.
10. Leaders Designing the Future – Managers Designing the Presents
The future of an organisation is provided by the mark. Therefore, a leader has their telescope into the next quartal, next year, next decades, and so on. They want to be at the forefront of everyone else to make sure that they have the best opportunity to deliver what the marketplace wants. A manager is more likely to design the presents and take on the day’s work into a perfect delivery.
10 Similar Skills:
Leaders and Managers Have 10 Skills in Common:
1. Build trust and commitment
2. Define expectation
3. Provide clarity
4. Give constructive feedback
5. Make a fast and effective decision
6. Have a growth mindset
7. Have Integrity
8. Show accountability and responsibility
9. Demonstrate they believe in others
10. Be an ambassador and way shower
1. Build Trust and Commitment
The ability to build trust and commitment is crucial for both leaders and managers. If there is a lack of trust and commitment, there can be delays and all kinds of trouble in the organisation. The number one communication skills start with rapport, trust, and commitment for all leaders and managers.
2. Define Expectations
In order to lead and manage people, it is important to define expectations in a consistent and specific way so everyone involved, either led or managed, can do their best to meet up to the necessary standard to master the organisation’s targets.
3. Provide Clarity
Clarity is the laser focus leaders and managers have in their top-perform toolbox. It is almost impossible to manage and lead others without clarity. Leaders and managers are skilled to master their minds and keeping a good balance between life and work.
4. Give Constructive Feedback
The old wisdom quote tells us “That if you have nothing good to say – don’t say it at all”. It is indeed true. Constructive feedback is always presented in a good way, not necessarily “good” as equal to what you want to hear, but “good-good” because it is delivered in a constructive way that provides you with the ability to grow and perform better next time. Leaders and Managers are trained to provide the best feedback that make an impact.
5. Make a Fast and Effective Decision
Perhaps you have heard about Napoleon Hill, the artist behind the famous “Think and Grow Rich”, the number one bestselling book in the category of self-development and money wellness. He devoted a whole capital to decisions. The decision is, according to Napoleon Hill, one of the most successful skills a leader and a manager could have. The best rule is to decide in 60 seconds, just as simple as that.
Napoleon Hill takes it even further by following up with the willingness. First you decide in 60 seconds, then you show your willingness to do what you have decided, and you do it as fast as possible. Leaders and managers have these ordinary skills simply because leadership and management always are under the limited zone of time and money.
6. Have a Growth Mindset
Top leaders and managers are skilled with a growth mindset. They view challenges as opportunities and see mistakes as a way of learning. They cultivate the right attitudes over everything else and value the process just as they value the results.
7. Have Integrity
The mind, body, and spirit of integrity are other qualities a leader and a manager share. Integrity is like strong energy, perhaps not always visual to the naked eye, but in the sensing zone, it is like a Wi-Fi signal to all the people in the organisation. They will in one or another way feel the integrity or lack of it. And after all, action always speaks louder than words so behaviour with integrity is the winning pathway for all leaders and managers.
8. Show Accountability and Responsibility
The value of accountability and responsibility are twin skills in leadership and management. It’s the ultimate test for a strong leader and manager to “hang in” and do what it takes, no matter the circumstances. They must show themselves and everyone that they are reliable and that they stay in the camp no matter what.
9. Demonstrate They Believe in Others
A leader and a manager know they cannot win the race alone. They believe in others and are willing to give them the opportunities to act on the stage with strengths and weaknesses. To demonstrate they believe in others, often before the individual believes in him- or herself is a core skill for both leaders and managers.
10. Be an Ambassador and Show the Way
Leaders and managers are an ambassador. They step into the sand and make great visible footprints that others are willing to follow without doubt. The leader set the next footprint for the future and the manager set the next footprint for the presence.
What is More Important, Leadership or Management?
The best answer is neither. They are separate and at the same time in a symbiotic relationship. Since they have different roles and purposes, they should be valued for their unique difference and coherent relationships.
Final Thoughts on Defining Leadership and Management
In a large organisation, leadership and management are like Ying and Yang. They need each other – and can indeed not exist without each other. The leader takes care of the why, and the manager takes care of the how.
