Are you a leader, a manager or both? In today’s marketplace, the lines of what it truly means to be successful at organizing and overseeing an effective, successful workflow system and inspiring change and innovation at an organization are often blurred.
Despite what some people may believe, the distinct skill sets that are key to moving a department or entire company ahead in a competitive marketplace don’t necessarily go hand in hand. There is a reason why some organizations end up elevating the wrong team member to become a leader, manager or vice versa. It may not be the right fit at first, but there is hope.
No matter what your current role is at your place of business, any individual interested in enhancing their professional development as a well-rounded leader or manager should read further to understand the difference and how to maintain the right balance. Below, 10 experts from Forbes Business Development Council weigh in on the meaning of both.
1. Influencing Others And Ensuring Your Team’s Success
This is a highly debated topic. Generally, most people point out that it’s more important to be a good leader. However, I would argue being a good leader is needed to be a good manager. A leader is someone who has the ability to influence others. A manager needs this critical leadership skill set, but they also need to set KPIs and manage processes to ensure their teams succeed in their goals. – Andrew Davidson, Fastenal
2. Maintaining Workflow While Sharing Your Vision About The Big Picture
Think of management as keeping the gears turning smoothly and handling the day-to-day stuff efficiently. Leadership, on the other hand, is like setting the compass direction. It’s about inspiring the team with a vision and steering the product toward big-picture success. – Naimeesha Murthy, Products By Women
3. Setting Priorities, Providing Inspiration And Advocating For Others
Management is often tasked with organizing the work, distilling priorities and advocating for the individuals on their team. Leadership is about inspiring the team, laying out a vision and setting the direction. They are different but connected—good leaders know how to do both, at the right times and in the right situations. – Toby Carrington, Seismic
4. Executing Initiatives Strategically To Reach Unified Goals
The difference between management and leadership is that management is more oriented toward developing a strategy and executing it. Leadership, on the other hand, is about inspiring others to follow a vision and work toward the same goals. – Diego Jerez, Option
5. Fostering Innovation And Establishing Company Culture
Management should be focused on performance and ensuring day-to-day operations are being executed according to plan. Leadership should focus on strategic development and the long-term vision of the company. Management prioritizes efficiency and productivity, while leadership should be concerned with fostering innovation, establishing company culture and inspiring others to drive positive impact. – Tim Conn, Image One Facility Solutions
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6. Challenging The Status Quo To Encourage Workplace Evolution
Management orchestrates processes, ensuring stability and efficiency. Leadership, by contrast, thrives on vision and innovation, challenging the status quo to inspire change. The essence lies in their focus: Managers aim to maintain, while leaders aim to evolve. This distinction is essential for navigating the complexities of a dynamic environment, requiring a blend of both to achieve success. – Eddy Vertil, Vertil & Company
7. Identifying Where The Balance Lies Between The ‘How’ And ‘Why’
I think of management as the operating system of a startup—ensuring things run smoothly. Managers are like the best software engineers; they write the code that keeps things humming along. Managers are concerned with the “how.” Leadership, on the other hand, is more focused on the “why”—why the company is doing what it’s doing and coming together to achieve a common goal. – Drew Chapin, Commerce Media Studio
8. Remaining A Well-Rounded Business Person And Human Being
Leaders rise to the top of organizations. Have you ever wondered how they do this? As we evolve from managers to leaders, I have found eight traits that stand the test of time: influence, integrity, authenticity, humility, compassion, vision, focus and humor – Mike Janes, Direct Line Global, LLC
9. Garnering Support And Respect From Your Direct Reports And Colleagues
Management is ensuring that your team is aligned with company goals and you have a structured process for everyone to be successful. Leadership can be expressed in any role. You can be an individual contributor and be a leader by creating a vision, inspiring people, building an army of supporters and, most importantly, executing. – Olga Lykova, monday.com
10. Organizing Plans And Facilitating Biz Efforts Through Team Buy-In
Being a manager doesn’t mean that you are also a leader by default. Management is focused on the efficient execution of day-to-day operations. It involves planning, organizing, directing and controlling an organization to achieve its objectives. Leadership is about setting a direction, inspiring and motivating people to engage with that vision, and facilitating efforts to accomplish shared goals. – Egle Pavyde, hVIVO PLC