To answer whether managers and leaders are different or not, let's look at the qualities that help define each.
Managers tend to be more focused on control, structure, and delegation. They rely heavily on their teams and want them to thrive personally and professionally. Managers often ask for feedback from their team members and are always eager to learn about new ideas from co-workers. Managers can get things done quickly by delegating tasks to their employees effectively. They make sure there is a transparent chain of command within the company, so everyone knows who they report to at any given time.
A quick google search on what makes a leader provides various incarnations of the following statements:
- A leader is someone who inspires passion and motivation in followers.
- A leader is someone with a vision and the path to realising it.
- A leader ensures their team has support and tools to achieve their goals.
While each of these traits is important, a great leader possesses all three.
An effective leader has a shared vision aligned with core values and understands what it will take to reach their team goals. They inspire, manage, and support their teams to work creatively and confidently toward that shared vision.
Leaders empower their team members to embrace their unique leadership qualities and act with independently accountable passion. Leaders ultimately inspire and motivate their teams to maintain long-term progress and excitement towards achieving their goals.
What Is a Manager?
Managers are typically responsible for planning and directing the work of others, while leaders lead by example. A manager's responsibilities include hiring and firing, conducting performance reviews, assigning tasks, and developing employees. In contrast, a leader's job is to spearhead initiatives that achieve business goals. As you can see from comparing a manager vs a leader, there is some overlap between the two positions; however, each role has its own unique set of requirements.
When it comes to organisational structure and hierarchy in the workplace, managers tend to fall above leaders. Although leadership does play an essential role in helping an organisation achieve its strategic objectives and long-term vision for success, managers are ultimately responsible for day-to-day operations. Managers oversee the work of other individuals within an organisation (e.g., employees or volunteers) who report directly to them or indirectly through another supervisor or manager. They may also have authority over projects that they're working on individually as well as with their team members—whether it's leading meetings with clients or setting up new processes to get things done more efficiently at home when there aren't any formal roles being played out by anyone other than yourself!
What Does a Leader Look Like?
Are leaders born, or can they be made? It's hard to say, but one thing is for sure: there are certain traits you should look for when determining whether you've found a potential leader.
First of all, take a look at the person's level of motivation. Is he/she/they self-motivated and driven in their work? What inspires him/her/them? You'll want someone with vision who can inspire those around them and have passion for the job.
Next, consider the person's knowledge. Do they value learning new things and have experience in the industry? They should be able to lead by example, learn from their own mistakes, and help others learn from theirs.
Thirdly, please look at how much value they place on teamwork. Are they eager to participate in group projects? Do they encourage collaboration rather than just focusing on individual contributions? The best leaders are always willing to give credit where it's due (and not just claim it themselves).
Finally, you might not expect this one, but consider how comfortable they are with taking risks and making decisions that could affect everyone else around them! The best leaders aren't afraid to get out there first, so others will follow behind them confidently, knowing everything will turn out fine if they do so, too or if it doesn't, then at least we'll see what happens next!
Who Are You?
One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is, "What am I?" It sounds like a straightforward question, but it can sometimes be hard to answer.
Am I a dog person? Yes. What kind of shoes should I wear today? Sneakers. Do I want to eat soup or salad? Soup. Am I a manager or leader? That's where things get complicated.
This confusion is understandable because there are many similarities between managers and leaders. Still, there is also an important distinction: leadership requires a certain amount of emotional investment that management does not—which changes everything.
Managers and leaders are two very different types of people.
Managers' goals arise from necessities rather than desires; they excel at defusing conflicts between individuals or departments, placating all sides while ensuring that an organisation's day-to-day business gets done. On the other hand, leaders adopt personal, active attitudes toward goals. Their goals are inspirational — leaders must accomplish things they feel are essential to the success and growth of the organisation.
If you want your business to grow, you'll need to nurture it with inspirational leadership.
If you are transitioning from management to leadership and want to learn how to be a better leader, you are right where you need to be.
We believe that there's always room to become a better leader, which is why we developed our industry-leading leadership courses, and the specific steps you take may vary by experience level, personal attributes, and goals. But no matter where you are on your leadership journey, you can follow these three steps to become a better leader.
- Listen and learn
- Create shared goals for your team
- Always look for an opportunity to improve
Managers and leaders have more in common than one might initially think. Although they vary slightly in responsibilities and skill sets, both are vital to organisational success. Here's some food for thought: a successful manager can transform into a leader, but a good leader will always be a leader. It's clear that managers and leaders communicate differently, lead in different ways, and handle various duties. The two probably shouldn't be interchangeable. However, this doesn't diminish their relationship. Instead of viewing them as opposing roles working against each other, they should be seen as two complementary positions.
