Are Leadership and Management the Same?

CCG Strategies Q&A Blog: To-the-Point Answers to Common Leadership and Management Consulting Questions

Are Leadership and Management the same?

It's a common question that many business professionals ask.

We're going to answer in less than 30 seconds.

Short Answer: No, leadership and management are two completely different functions. Leaders create vision. Managers manage what needs to happen so the vision occurs as expected.

Long Answer: No, Leadership and Management do different things.

Let's Deep Dive.

What is Leadership?

Leadership is the ability to generate the confidence of employees, stakeholders, and shareholders while establishing, implementing, and managing business objectives through high-impact decision-making and the management of projects, and people.

A Leadership role is focused on identifying long-term visions that affect many people. For this reason, a leader must be able to generate the confidence of those under them. Leaders are also responsible for identifying the broad steps required to meet the vision.

What is Management?

Management involves managing the steps required to meet a leader's vision.

Managers may own a small piece of a leader's vision and may be tasked with identifying the subtasks needed to meet a leadership requirement.

For example, if the CEO of Starbucks decided to introduce a new product into the market, the CEO may break the vision into different pieces such as the Supplier Management, Marketing, Operations , Financial and Legal requirements to develop and introduce a product. A different manager may be assigned to each piece. This manager will be responsible for making sure their small piece of the vision is completed in the way the CEO expects.

What is the Main Difference Between Leaders and Managers?

In short, Leaders inspire, innovate, and grow. Managers follow and organize. A Leader can manage and a Manager can lead, but ultimately they are two different functions used at different times.

CCG Strategies focuses on the skills that both a Manager and a Leader need. We also provide the gap knowledge that a manager will need if they want to take on a leadership position!

Check out our self serve options to learn the skills you need to learn to lead and manage!