# Leadership vs. Management – Can You Be Good At Both?
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-06-28
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Leaders vs Managers: Key Differences and Effective
Meta Description: Discover the key distinctions between managers and leaders in the business world, and explore whether it's possible to excel in both roles with insights from an award-winning UK Business & Career Coach.
URL: https://financedigest.com/leadership-vs-management-can-you-be-good-at-bothhtml

_By_ [**_Marian Evans –_**](https://www.elevatebc.co.uk/) _, an award-winning Entrepreneur, UK Business & Career Coach and Founder of Elevate BC_

A common misnomer I’ve found in the business world is that good leadership and management are one and the same thing. People often believe that managers must be great leaders and leaders are all excellent managers. However, from first-hand experience, I know that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The reality is that while good [leaders and managers share](https://www.financedigest.com/young-leaders-forum-niamh-corbett-shares-her-top-5-tips.html "Young Leaders Forum: Niamh Corbett shares her top 5 tips") many of the same qualities, there are also some significant and fundamental differences between the two. Businesses need good managers and leaders to succeed, but is it possible for one person to possess the mindset, characteristics and skills to be competent in these two different disciplines?

I’m going to delve into my experience as a [business and leadership](https://www.financedigest.com/5-essential-leadership-skills-for-family-owned-businesses.html "5 essential leadership skills for family-owned businesses") coach to explore what I think makes an effective manager and leader. I’ll also discuss some of the differences between them and whether it’s possible to excel at both.

**[Leaders and managers:](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-manage-burnout-and-how-leaders-should-support-employee-wellbeing-tom-keya.html "How to manage burnout and how leaders should support employee wellbeing | Tom Keya") Who are they and what do they do?**

**_Managers_**

A manager is a member of an organisation who is responsible for carrying out the four main functions of management: planning, organising, controlling and leading. Their primary aim is to organise their [teams to drive](https://www.financedigest.com/a-winning-team-how-corporate-champions-can-drive-successful-collaborations.html "A winning team: how ‘corporate champions’ can drive successful collaborations  ") the business towards its goals and objectives.

Although leadership is a management function, that doesn’t automatically make all [managers good leaders](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-com-named-a-market-leader-in-research-in-actions-partner-management-automation-report-and-in-g2-winter-reports.html "impact.com Named a Market Leader in Research in Action’s Partner Management Automation Report and in G2 Winter Reports"). Some [managers have poor](https://www.financedigest.com/poor-user-experience-plaguing-wealth-management-firms-warns-radical-company.html "Poor user experience plaguing wealth management firms, warns Radical Company") leadership skills and employees only do what’s asked of them because they have to rather than being influenced, engaged or inspired.

Leaders

Unlike [managers who hold a position](https://www.financedigest.com/allianz-benelux-taps-into-modern-data-management-to-combat-fraud-and-foster-a-positive-customer-experience.html "Allianz Benelux Taps into Modern Data Management to Combat Fraud and Foster a Positive Customer Experience") of authority in an organisation, a leader can be anyone who inspires and influences others with their behaviour, personality and passion.

Leaders are typically invested in their work and are [committed to tasks](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-says-it-is-committed-to-leading-a-nato-task-force-in-2024.html "Britain says it is committed to leading a NATO task force in 2024") and projects. They also have an [interest in their followers](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-sunak-followed-conflict-of-interest-rules-independent-advisor.html "UK’s Sunak followed conflict of interest rules -independent advisor") and work with them to help them reach their professional goals, which may not necessarily align with the goals of the organisation.

**The [key differences between managers](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-benfield-launches-managed-care-services-platform-with-the-appointment-of-three-key-executives.html "Aon Benfield launches Managed Care Services platform with the appointment of three key executives") and leaders**

As we’ll see, it’s possible to be an effective leader and [manager at the same time](https://www.financedigest.com/time-management-strategies-that-work.html "Time management strategies that work"). However, it’s also the case that a great leader will not always necessarily be a good manager and vice versa. That’s due to the key differences between the two roles.

**_Leaders [drive the vision and managers](https://www.financedigest.com/iforces-route-genie-to-drive-efficient-carrier-management-for-freestylextreme.html "IFORCE’S ROUTE GENIE TO DRIVE EFFICIENT CARRIER MANAGEMENT FOR FREESTYLEXTREME") help them achieve it_**

[Leaders ask](https://www.financedigest.com/three-questions-finance-leaders-should-be-asking-themselves-during-the-pandemic.html "Three questions finance leaders should be asking themselves during the pandemic") the ‘what’ and ‘why’ questions, while managers focus on the ‘how and ‘when’. Leaders tend to be ideas people. They look to the future, identify [opportunities and have a clear vision of where they want the business](https://www.financedigest.com/the-north-heads-south-to-mipim-en-masse-to-corner-new-real-estate-business-opportunities.html "The North heads South to MIPIM en masse to corner new real estate business opportunities") to be. They then rely on the [skills of managers](https://www.financedigest.com/fine-tuning-your-money-management-skills-today.html "Fine-tuning your money management skills today") to implement the processes that help them get there.

**_Leadership is a quality, management is a position_**

‘Management’ is a job title. It brings with it authority, a set of responsibilities and a job description. ‘Leadership’ is a quality that workers at every level of the organisation, including managers, can possess. It can be [learned but it cannot be earned via a promotion](https://www.financedigest.com/promoting-a-learning-culture-in-the-workplace.html "Promoting a learning culture in the workplace"). Regardless of your title or position, if you behave in such a way that inspires and encourages others, you are a leader.

**_Leaders inspire and managers control_**

When it [comes to how they lead people](https://www.financedigest.com/power-to-the-people-how-consumers-are-calling-the-shots-when-it-comes-to-data-privacy.html "Power to the people: how consumers are calling the shots when it comes to data privacy"), a manager typically relies on control to get the job done. They understand their employees well and use that knowledge to bring out their best. Leaders, on the other hand, inspire [loyalty and trust](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-maintain-customer-loyalty-and-trust-in-the-face-of-a-pandemic-and-digital-competition.html "How to maintain customer loyalty and trust in the face of a pandemic and digital competition"). Their actions set the pace and tempo for the rest of the group, which [drives employees](https://www.financedigest.com/lufthansa-launches-drive-to-hire-20000-employees.html "Lufthansa launches drive to hire 20,000 employees") to do their best.

**Can you be a good leader and manager?**

Absolutely, definitively, yes. Being a good manager and leader is a viable concept because although there are some differences, there are also many areas of overlap. [Excellent communication](https://www.financedigest.com/document-redesign-clarifying-communications-for-cx-excellence.html "Document redesign: clarifying communications for CX excellence") skills, problem-solving and decision-making, and change management are all skills that good leaders and managers possess.

However, it’s also [important to acknowledge that you don’t necessarily have to be a good leader and manager](https://www.financedigest.com/four-reasons-whycloud-based-inventory-management-is-important-for-your-ecommerce-business.html "Four reasons whycloud-based inventory management is important for your ecommerce business") to be successful at your job. Both leaders and [managers are critical for business](https://www.financedigest.com/5-practical-ways-to-manage-your-business-expenses.html "5 Practical Ways To Manage Your Business Expenses") success. While the best managers typically possess some leadership skills, you can risk diluting the managerial attributes that come naturally to you if you try too hard to develop skills that [don’t necessarily play](https://www.financedigest.com/dont-play-second-fiddle-how-disruptor-banks-can-leverage-music-and-audio.html "Don’t Play Second Fiddle: How Disruptor Banks Can Leverage Music and Audio") to your strengths.

That said, for seasoned and aspiring managers, improving your leadership skills can be beneficial, and it’s never too late to learn. Developing your leadership skills can help you influence others and build greater self-awareness. It can also teach you techniques for delivering feedback, coaching colleagues and [overcoming challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/5-challenges-to-overcome-in-governance-risk-and-compliance-magazine.html "5 Challenges to Overcome in Governance, Risk and Compliance-Magazine").

[Becoming a better leader](https://www.financedigest.com/rishi-sunak-declared-next-leader-of-uk-conservative-party-to-become-next-pm.html "Rishi Sunak declared next leader of UK Conservative Party, to become next PM") certainly isn’t easy, but it can be a very rewarding part of your professional development if you’re ready to embrace it.

**_About Author:_**

_Marian Evans is a multiple [business owner](https://www.financedigest.com/how-banks-will-evolve-to-support-small-business-owners.html "How banks will evolve to support small business owners") and winner of Inspirational Woman of the Decade (WIB). As well as sitting on several boards Marian has coached and mentored some of the UK’s [top leaders](https://www.financedigest.com/young-leaders-forum-top-5-tips-from-jamal-edwards-mbe.html "Young Leaders Forum: Top 5 Tips from Jamal Edwards MBE"). Marian works with ambitious executives through Elevate BC a Consultancy she founded in 2017 to support individuals (and businesses) to maximise their potential._ [_www.elevatebc.co.uk_](http://www.elevatebc.co.uk)


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