Management vs Leadership

The real difference between managers and leaders is the attitude.

What’s the difference between managers and leaders, other than perhaps the glamorous image of leadership compared to the rather boring image of a manager?

When you look at the tasks of managers and leaders they are actually quite similar:

✨Communicate with groups of people
✨Motivate teams
✨Delegate tasks
✨Solve problems

So, what makes the difference between a manager and a leader?

Attitude and the way they build the culture of the team.

Steve Jobs is famous for saying:

“Management is about persuading people to do things they do not want to do, while leadership is about inspiring people to do things they never thought they could.”

— Steve Jobs

I agree but I think it’s about attitude and this is something we can all learn.

As leaders we approach our tasks differently:

✅We communicate to inspire rather than control.

✅We motivate long term goals rather than the quick fix of managers.

✅We delegate with trust allowing people room and permission to try things knowing they may fail as opposed to task delegation with strict boundaries.

✅We look at solving problems using innovative ideas rather than looking for an immediate solution.

The good news is that we can learn to adapt our attitude.

How has your attitude shifted as you move into a leadership position?

My first role as a manager was many years ago as the Director of Nursing for a small day procedure centre in Melbourne.

I assumed being the manager would simply mean I would do my job with some extra administrative tasks.

What I wasn’t prepared for was the impact I would have on the culture of the team.

How I showed up each day had a huge impact.

I had to make sure I was accessible even when I felt too busy.

I could no longer ignore gossipy conversations.

I realised that being a manager is being a leader, with responsibilities for designing the culture of the team.

As a leader, you can have a positive or negative effect on that culture.

What do you do as a leader to influence a positive culture in your team?

If you have a team of managers looking to step into leadership, you can access my ebook Managership here. 

If you would like to talk to me personally you can email me at bek@rebeccabradshaw.com.au or call me on 0403857054.