What is the Difference Between a Manager and a Leader?

Every good team needs someone at the head to oversee and steer them in the right direction. 

However, there are two titles that one might give to such a person: a leader or a manager. 

While there is some overlap between the work that management and leadership performs, there are some big differences that set the roles apart. 

Understanding these differences between a leader and a manager is vital for building a strong and competent team. 

But what are the qualities of a good team leader or manager, and how do you go from good to great? 

Let’s explore these topics further in this article. 

Key differences between leaders and managers 

Vision & Execution 

A leader focuses heavily on keeping others heading in the same direction and focuses on the future of the team. 

A manager is more hands-on, directing the team in the short term and making sure the projects and plans are completed that will eventually drive the team to succeed. 

Inspire & Guide 

A leader motivates a team or a department. They keep morale high and they influence others to keep working to the best of their ability. They generate trust within the team and motivate others. 

A manager is more directly guiding the team. Their instructions are important in keeping the team following the right processes, ensuring their work is done in the best way possible. 

Long-term & Short-term 

A leader has the bigger plan in mind. They are much more strategically involved and care more about the long-term goal than the short-term results. 

A manager is more focused on keeping the team moving, ensuring that deadlines are met and the results from any tasks are positive overall. 

How do teams benefit from having both a strong leader and manager? 

The skills of a leader and manager do complement each other quiet well. 

Leaders are responsible for setting the strategy, while the manager makes sure the strategy is executed by their team. 

The manager is also in charge of updating the leader with essential details on what their team needs to successfully perform and any challenges they are facing. 

The leader then in turn can provide the manager with the resources they need to overcome those challenges. 

Qualities and Characteristics of a Good Team Leader 

While their actual daily responsibilities and tasks might be different, a good leader and a good manager do both benefit from the same leadership qualities. 

These qualities are: 

1. Integrity 

Demonstrating the values that the company considers important and sets an example. Taking ownership of success and failure & managing individuals. 

2. Communication 

Listening to the team, being transparent in communicating & inspiring each team member. Managing stakeholder relationships and setting expectations. 

3. Strategic thinking 

Thinking out of the box, planning for the team & organisation’s future. Identify issues and find fitting solutions. 

4. Decisiveness 

Making difficult decisions with authority and confidence. 

5. Empathy 

Relating to others and the ability to build relationships and trust with other members of the team/company. Respect others and learn from their experience. 

How to Become a Good Leader 

If you want to take on more responsibilities and become a qualified leader or a good manager, MOL can help. 

Whether you are an “accidental manager” – a manager that has grown into the position without leadership or management training – or an experienced leader, it helps to brush up on your practical skills. 

If you don’t have any experience in being a manager yet, courses will especially help you build the skills and confidence to become a successful manager. 

Our CMI Leadership & Management Courses are designed to help you develop the skills you need to effectively and efficiently lead a team, manage projects and drive performance. These are skills that employers consistently value in a good manager or leader. 

CMI courses and qualifications are globally recognised and respected, meaning that any certificate you get will be valuable no matter where your career ends up taking you. 

The skills you learn in these courses depend on the route you chose, but can include: 

• Managing change  
• Managing finance  
• Creating and delivering operational plans  
• Managing projects to achieve results  
• Managing stakeholder relationships  
• Principles of developing, managing and leading individuals and teams to success  
• Principles of management and leadership in an organisational context.  

If you want to build the above skills, and grow in confidence in your management or leadership role, we have multiple CMI courses to grow and foster your career in this space: 

• CMI Level 3 Principles of Management and Leadership 
• CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership 
• CMI Level 5 Project Management 
• Mini MBA in Strategic Operational Leadership for Schools and Trusts 

Signing up for our courses can be done via the above pages, or you can reach out to us for help and advice via our contact page. 

If you have any questions about our leadership and management courses, you can browse our new leadership & management course FAQ.