Leaders vs managers: are you doing the right thing, or doing things right?

Leadership and management are often referred to as a similar skillset, but they are as different as night and day. While both are important in any organisation, understanding the difference between them can help you understand where you might have gaps and opportunities for growth. 

Let’s look at the difference between the two:

• Management is about control, systems, and processes. Managers are the people who keep things running smoothly, ensuring that deadlines are met, budgets are adhered to, and employees are held accountable. In short, managers are the ones who make sure that the bus runs on time.
• Leadership is all about vision, inspiration, and motivation. Leaders are the ones who inspire others to follow them, who are willing to take risks and think outside the square. They change systems and processes to make it better for customers and their people as it aligns with their vision, and they have a clear view of where they want to go. They provide inspiration for others to follow them on the journey.

So, in essence management is about doing things right, while leadership is about doing the right things.

Imagine you are lost on a walk in the outback, and you come across two people: a manager and a leader. To help you find your way the manager will give you a map, a compass, and a set of instructions to follow. They will tell you to walk five kilometres to the north, turn left at the billabong, walk another five kilometres west, and you will get back to the carpark where you left your car.

The leader, on the other hand, will give you hope. They will tell you that they have been lost in the outback before, and they know the way out so follow them. They will inspire you to keep going, even when things get tough, and they will lead you to the safety of your car.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Surely a manager can also be a leader?” and I absolutely agree they can. I have been privileged to work alongside many great managers who are also great leaders. But remember, management and leadership are two different skill sets, and just because someone is a great manager, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a great leader.

I’ve experienced firsthand a manager who was a terrible leader. They were great at keeping things organised, processes followed and making sure that deadlines were met, but they had no vision or inspiration. They would never think outside the box or take risks and used language like “but that’s not how we do things here” when presented with an idea or opportunity. Their team felt like a cog in the machine, and ideas dismissed as the KPI’s were being met, even though things could be better.

On the other hand, I experienced a leader who was a terrible manager. They had a clear vision of where they wanted to go, and they inspired their team to follow them, but they were terrible at managing the day-to-day.  No-one was clear on their role, nothing really got done, budgets were blown, and chaos reigned although it was “fun” as people were inspired by their vision.

So, in summary, leadership and management are two different skill sets, but both can be developed. It’s important to understand the difference between them so you know where to focus the personal development activities for you and your team to fill the gaps. By having a mix of both skills at all levels of your organisation you will have the ability to look at the bigger picture, set and communicate the journey, whilst being able to zoom in and make sure that the work gets done to get you there. 

And remember if you’re lost in the outback look for someone who has a great mix of both.