Are you a Manager, or are you a Leader? The hot topic crawling professional social media platforms today. The great divide between these two titles seems to be growing more and more. Why do you have to choose between one or the other? There’s a misunderstanding that management is about supervising and micromanaging your team and leadership is about vision, growth and long-term strategy. It seems you cannot scroll on any professional social media platforms without seeing charts or infographics on how management and leadership differ significantly from one another. What’s even worse? Management is made out to be this evil function while leadership is being touted as the above all and end all.

I want to share a different perspective.

Management is about navigating complexity. Leadership is about navigating change.
You cannot have one without the other.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Managers, often called the front line management team, is a tough role. Managers are the in between go-to gurus for the day to day transactional tasks and the ears on the ground for upper management. Managers are supporting both their teams and the upper management/leadership. Often, those managers need to provide guidance, coaching, mentoring and vision so their teams can see beyond the day to day. Allowing their teams to understand the meaning behind why they do what they do every day. They’re also focused on identifying gaps or challenges and coming up with creative long term solutions that are often presented to the leadership team for risk assessment and financial impact.

Managers have to lead and manage simultaneously.

It’s up to the leader of the team to know when to leverage their management skills and when to hone in on their leadership skills. Yes, management and leadership have two separate skill sets, but again, this doesn’t mean that managers cannot lead and vice versa. Management is about navigating complexity. Leadership is about navigating change. Therefore, the manager will need to assess the current situation and react accordingly.

Complexity and change are the two constants managers are faced with in their role. Sometimes happening at different stages, and other times it’s occurring at the same time. Being an effective manager and leader is dependent on how you navigate both.

So…What’s the difference between complexity and change?

Complexity:

The challenges that are presented to your team.
External sources raising concerns and providing feedback.
Internal sources raising concerns and providing feedback.
Meeting the company goals and expectations.
Minimal resources.
Simplified complexity: vacation management while navigating sick call ins.

With complexity, you’ll need to think on your feet, be quick to problem solve, and ensure your solution does not create any unintended additional work in the process.

Change:

Is a constant we see in business.
Significant change occurs during times of growth and major declines.
Often working on opposite sides of the spectrum.
Needing to uplift and shift from the way it’s be done IN THE PAST.
Scalability.
Adaptation.

With change, you need to provide scalable solutions. Ideation becomes a skill set you lean into in order to strategize for the future developments of the organization. It’s about identifying how your team will adapt to manage the future endeavors. Forward thinking, innovative, thought provoking and risk taking are some of the skills leveraged during times of change. You’ll also be poised with making investments to sustain the demand of the future.

But with change, comes complexity - a constant cycle between management and leadership. Hence why we should not separate managers from leaders. Being a manager is both management and leadership. Very little insight is provided on how to manage both.

If you’re trying to figure out whether to manage or lead in your new role as manager, start with the following:

Goals
Listen to your teams concerns and feedback
Get organized
Create team structure (i.e. roles/responsibilities)
Develop both a short term and long term vision
Develop your team strategy
Execute, assess, adjust
Familiarize yourself with your organizations short and long-term goals
Assess whether your company is currently growing or going through a decline

In the ongoing social medial debate as to whether managers can be leaders, it's important to recognize that you don't have to choose one over the other. Both skill sets are vital for your growth as an emerging leader. Think of your management skills as your guide through the day-to-day challenges, helping your team stay on track and perform at their best. Your Leadership skills are your compass, pointing you towards the future and inspiring your team to reach new heights.

It's understandable to feel overwhelmed by the complexity of it all, but remember, you're not alone on this journey. If you’d like to connect further on the topic of management and leadership, reach out to find out more.

Remember, it's okay to make mistakes along the way; that's how we learn and grow. With a blend of management and leadership skills, you'll navigate the twists and turns of your career path with confidence and compassion.

THE MANAGER TOOLKIT