Manager vs leader, hmm? If you are new to being “in charge” you may read the title and be thinking “what’s the difference”- they are the same thing, RIGHT? Well, they are not the same. Even though the manager and leader roles overlap, they are indeed distinct and separate. Many newly promoted managers often struggle with their gained status. This is because they don’t understand the differences and how the two work together to drive complete success. Knowing those distinctions can be the difference in a novice leader having fast and sustained success or struggling to adapt to the pressures of being in charge.

My Personal Experience Learning Manager vs. Leader

Early in my leadership career. I worker as a manager in fast food. I was obsessed with perfection and being known as the most capable and effective manager on the team. I was determined and driven to not only be successful each day but to move up the ranks. So much so that, even though I had very efficient shifts with the least amount of bad orders or breakdowns in service, I also had the most employees calling in sick or not showing for work. 

Why? Probably because I heavily focused on driving the processes and end results. I didn’t truly emphasis the value of my people. Working my shift wasn’t fun. It was all business and all grind. In some environments, like on the battlefield during war, that is needed. But when you have a staff of teenagers and young adults working for minimum wage, that was not the smartest approach. I got short-term results but created an unsustainable environment. 

What is a Manager and a Leader?

So to help understand the 2 concepts, let’s first define each in order to clarify their distinctions. 

  • Management is defined as the act of directing, handling, or controlling the affairs of a business, institution, etc. 
  • Leadership is guiding, persuading, or impressing a person or group of persons usually toward a common goal or cause.

A manager tends to be tied to a position where a leader can lead from anywhere. The reality is, however, a person is a mix of both and is rarely completely a manager or completely a leader.

Manager and Leader as Mindsets

Another way of defining each is to think of both manager and leader as mindsets rather than roles or persons. The manager mindset tends to focus on process, goals, results, outcomes, and functions. This mindset is about the “What” and the “How.” When I was a young assistant manager in fast food, my manager mindset was to make the customers orders fast, right, be food safe all while controlling our food cost to maximize profits. All very important responsibilities and very much needed. There is no way the company would stay in business nor would I have kept my job if we didn’t do those things and do them consistently.

The leader mindset tends to focus on the people, team, emotions, value, strategy, and vision. New leaders and some ineffective veteran leaders tend to not have this mindset developed. My downfall as a young manager was not that I had a manager mindset but that I ONLY had that mindset. I failed to focus enough on my greatest asset- my team. 

The leader mindset would have understood why each employee was working for the company. It would have sought ways to make work enjoyable, competitive, and fun but still got the work done. This mindset would have made sure to convey the value and purpose each associate had regardless of their role, the type of work, or the amount of pay they earned. 

Managers and Leaders are like most things...

The reality is managers and leaders are like most things…there are some that are good and there are some that are bad. The management mindset is often perceived in a negative light. Have you ever had a manager that made you feel like they only cared about the job? They never asked you about YOU or ever seem to care? They never asked you for your input and NEVER asked you about your wants, goals, or desires. They seem to care less about what motivates you to do the job or work for the company.

This is being more of a “boss” and less of being a leader…that is what the past me did for that team I once led at the restaurant. Many front-line leaders don’t know or ignore this concept. Leaning heavily on the management mindset by placing heavy focus on the process, production, and end result but little on the people will lead to eventual breakdown and poor results.

So what does this mean for you as a new or frontline leader?

Success comes from balancing the manager vs. leader mindsets and knowing how to execute both roles. If you understand each mindset and how they compliment each other then you will be ahead of the game. In fact, management and leadership, especially in the workplace, work best when effectively intertwined.

Action Points for Novice Leaders

Share the Vision

During planning, organizing, and execution phases continuously communicate the vision and connect the dots between the “what and how” of what you are doing to the “why.” Your team will deliver greater results when they work with a purpose.

Make Your People Priority

When managing processes and working toward your team objectives remember to also focus on the people part of the business. Human capital is the most valuable resource any company has- making the right investments in your people always has a guaranteed return on investment.

Hold Your Team Accountable

Don’t be so “people” focused and lenient that the team doesn’t take you seriously and nothing gets accomplished. At the Same time, don’t be overbearing and manipulative and lead with intimidation and fear. That style of leadership never lasts long and never yields optimal results. Be fair and hold your team accountable for execution and results while providing clear guidance and support. 

Constantly Seek Feedback

Regularly seek feedback from your team, peers, and supervisors about your performance as a leader. That can sometimes be a tough thing to do but it is a valuable practice that can help you maintain the right perspective about how effective you are as a leader and how others perceive your leadership brand.

Thank you for visiting Novice Leader!

Please be sure to read some of our other articles on Leadership such as “What is Leadership?” and “What Are the Top Manager Skills New Leaders Should Develop?“

If you have not already, check out and subscribe to our YouTube Page, turn on the notifications, become a part of our Novice Leader community by joining our email list to always be aware of new content. Share this post, and the Novice Leader site, with all that you think would benefit…

And Don’t Forget – You ARE the Leader you Choose to Be!

References

Similar Posts