Management Skills vs. Leadership Skills: What's the Difference?

Think the terms “leader” and “manager” are synonyms? Well, that’s not quite true.

These two words are often used interchangeably in the business world, but there are actually quite a few differences between management skills vs leadership skills.

So, uhhh… what exactly is this mysterious difference? We’re breaking it all down for you right here.

Compare and contrast: How leaders differ from managers

To make thing extra confusing, it’s true that the most effective leaders also possess many of the same skills that make a successful manager—and vice versa. Those lines do get almost frustratingly blurry.

If that’s the case, what makes for a great leader—as opposed to a great manager?

Sarah Finch, a leadership development facilitator, coach, and professional speaker, sums it up perfectly when she says, “People follow leaders because they want to. They follow managers because they are told to.”

Through their behavior and interactions, good leaders inspire people to follow them and live up to the example they’re setting. In contrast, managers are placed in positions of power on the organizational chart—meaning employees feel the need to listen to them simply because they’re outranked.

“A manager holds a position of authority and is responsible for the accomplishment of company goals for a specific team within that company,” explains Rob Braiman, Founder and CEO of Cogent Analytics, “A leader, on the other hand, only requires that people are willing to follow.”

Does this mean that a manager can’t also be an effective leader? Absolutely not—there’s plenty of overlap. But, to add some further clarity, let’s touch on some of the necessary skills of managers and compare those to some must-have leadership skills.

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What makes a good manager? 5 essential skills

Traditionally, managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of their teams. With that in mind, here are five skills that help them do their jobs well.

1. Organization

The best managers are highly organized. They’re able to establish and then maintain company processes, monitor progress, organize priorities, and generally keep their teams on track in achieving certain milestones.

That’s tough to do successfully when they’re scatterbrained. So, it’s important that managers are skilled at keeping things in order.

2. Attention to detail

Similarly to the points mentioned above, managers need to be acutely in tune with what’s happening on their teams.

Whether that’s spotting when things could potentially go over budget or vetting other people’s work, keen attention to detail will help a manager (and his or her team!) to succeed—with as few headaches and hurdles as possible.

3. Communication

There’s no way around it: Communication is an unavoidable skill for managers. They must be able to provide necessary feedback, clear up confusion, offer direction, collaborate with other company managers, and even resolve conflicts.

The better communicator a manager is, the easier time he or she will have overseeing and steering the direction of the entire team.

4. Time Management

When you consider that managers are responsible for the daily forward motion of their departments, it becomes obvious that they need to be exceptionally skilled time managers. They need to be able to get things done and set appropriate priorities for their teams.

“Organizations are built on the backs of great managers. Managers get things done—ahead of time and under budget—time and time again,” says Wayne Strickland, President of Global Distribution Strategy at Hallmark Cards, “Great managers can absorb a tremendous amount of work, navigate changes in schedules and the work environment, and still hit their goals.”

5. Delegation

While managers need to be able to get things accomplished on their own, they should also be able to effectively assign work to others—and then trust them to get it done correctly.

Any employee will be quick to tell you that there’s nothing worse than a micromanager. So, the most effective managers know how to be successful and supportive delegators.

What makes a good leader? 5 essential skills

Those above five characteristics sound like the makings of a great manager, right? And, as we’ve mentioned a few times, ideally leaders will also possess those skills.

But, in addition to the above, what do leaders need to be truly amazing at inspiring their teams? Here are five key qualities.

1. Vision

While managers oversee the day-to-day operations of their teams, leaders are more focused on the strategy and shaping the overall direction of the culture, department, or entire organization.

With that in mind, it’s important that leaders have the foresight and big-picture thinking capabilities to steer the ship—while the manager directs the crew.

2. Curiosity

The best leaders aren’t content to rest with the status quo. Instead, they’re looking to challenge those norms and tackle problems with an innovative approach or a totally fresh perspective. They’re natural innovators.

Because of that, leaders are innately curious. They love to learn, grow, and become intimately familiar with how things work—as well as how they could work better.

3. Communication

Wait… what? Didn’t we also list communication as an essential skill on the management list?

Yes—good catch! But, this was intentional. Communication is critically important for both leaders and managers alike. However, the methods and content of their communication can differ.

While managers need to be able to communicate directions and feedback, leaders focus less on the technical details and more on encouragement and empowerment.

“Leaders need to be good listeners,” says Finch, “They need to know how to coach their people to find answers, not just direct them. A leader knows when to step back and let other voices be louder, and when they need to take action.”

4. Emotional Intelligence

In order for leaders to inspire people to follow them—as opposed to instructing them to follow—they need a high level of emotional intelligence.

This means that they can empathize with others, establish trust and genuine connections, and then motivate those people accordingly.

5. Accountability

Finally, the most successful leaders are highly accountable. They view themselves as responsible not only for themselves but also for the people who look up to them.

“A leader believes he or she is accountable to those they lead,” shares Connelly Hayward, a coach, trainer, and consultant, “A manager believes his or her team members are accountable to him or herself.”

Leaders don’t view direct reports as burdens who could potentially tarnish their own reputation. Instead, they view those reports as people they need to adequately serve and support.

Management skills vs. Leadership skills: Yes, there’s a difference

This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are tons of different competencies that are necessary to be an effective leader or manager. And, in an ideal world, there will also be plenty of overlap between the two.

But, one thing is for certain: Becoming a successful leader or manager doesn’t just happen by accident. As with anything, it requires self-awareness and an investment in improving your own skills.

Where should you get started in giving your own skill set a boost? Sign up for GoSkills and then check out our team leadership course or our leadership training course.

Before long, you’ll have dedicated followers behind you—not just because they have to follow your lead, but because they want to.

12 Team management skills every manager must learn in 2023

What are team management skills?

Team management skills are the traits that one, being a manager or leader, needs to guide their team effectively. For effective

team management, the team leader must be more of a mentor to their team than just a strict and cruel boss.

You need to understand your team members very well. Only then can you play your role and inspire your people. Now, gone are the days when employees had a fear of their bosses. Today, everyone prefers to have a healthy and friendly relationship with their managers. This thing increases the comfort level, and executives actually get to see better performances from their mates.

So, if you are being promoted to a manager soon, and want to be an inspiration for your team, here are twelve essential skills you must possess. These will help you handle your team perfectly and be the guru they always wanted. Let’s get started.

12 Team management skills every manager needs to learn

1. Task Delegation

A good manager must know their workforce enough to decide what work suits them best. For you, picking up the most appropriate employee for a task is necessary. The better you will know your people, the easier it will get to identify the best possible candidate. Remember, all your team members are different and have unique skills that outstand them. Therefore, choosing a suitable person for a suitable task is essential to improve productivity.

2. Providing Constructive Feedback

Feedback is important for everyone and it’s own of the best ways to keep your team motivated. Being a manager, even if you need your boss’s feedback on your work, why not the team then? It is good to spare a day or two at the end of every month and prepare a performance sheet for all your employees. This will help you keep track of their work as well. This feedback should not only include negative feedback. Ensure that you appreciate your team, too.

3. Effective Time Management

Being promoted to manager means multiple responsibilities. Therefore, time management is a soft skill you must not overlook gaining for yourself. A manager has to give their team the time they need and complete the work simultaneously. The grind may get tough for some time, but if you work on it, you will soon excel.

4. Keeping Calm Under Pressure

If you have been under the assistance of a manager who panics easily, you will have an idea of what impact it has on the team. This is why employers always try to recruit a manager who can work under pressure and not lose their temper. Working under pressure is difficult, but you will never overwhelm your team or throw tantrums if you have excellent leadership skills.

5. Clear Communication

This is one of the skills I like about my manager the most. People always say communication is the key, but I would like to revamp it a little so that clear communication is the key. You cannot expect your force to work superbly on a custom essay writing project when you’re not providing them clear instructions and room for communication. For all managers, no matter what sector, it is crucial to be flexible enough so that their workers can communicate with them easily without being hesitant.

Read our article to learn how to improve communication in your team.

6. Emotional Intelligence

One of the most important skills that you, being a manager, must exhibit! It’s very important to be a team manager and rule your team. Still, it isn’t easy to have emotional intelligence, where you can relate with your mates and be there for them emotionally. A good team leader is kind, emphatic, and self-aware. If you possess these skills, I swear you’ll be more than a boss to your public.

7. Set Up A Positive Workplace

I’m so glad of the fact that employees today don’t think for a second before leaving a negative and depressing workplace. It is so sad that there are still managers who are rude to their workers and treat them as their slaves. I hope you don’t create any such environment at your workplace.

Be the friend your colleagues can share everything with and offer them a comfortable working space. This practice won’t only make you a great manager but will also foster employee retention rates.

8. Ability To Listen To Your Team

Complementing the last few points, it is also essential for a team manager to not only speak up for their ideas but let the force share theirs too. We often see managers impose their ideas and instructions on their team members and don’t let them explore their creative minds. This is not how it should be done. Instead, a manager should give enough space to their employees to bring new suggestions to the table.

9. Prioritizing Transparency All The Time

Another skill to not ignore being a team manager is offering transparency to team members. My dissertation assistance provider says that a manager should be clear about the goals, objectives, achievements, and feedback. You might not realize the outcome initially, but this trait will power your staff’s performance, especially the sales team. The trust they will get for themselves will be the key to reaching new targets.

Get to know the differences between short-term goals vs long-term goals

10. Foster Team Development

Since we are all about teams today, a team manager must manage their team so perfectly that they work together. Promote engagement and training (ex: a time management course), take your team out for treats, and offer incentives for excellent performances. The better your team connects, the enhanced their functioning will be.

11. Strategic Problem Solving

You can’t be a great team manager if you are not a great problem solver, period. Wherever there are people and teams, there are problems but being the one in power is. You must know how to handle situations and rising problems. Once you have a grip on this skill, you can easily win the award for a best problem solver, oh, and the best manager.

12. Decision Making

Last but not least, an indecisive person cannot qualify to be a good team leader. This is because a manager often has to make decisions within seconds, and for this, critical thinking is essential. So, critical thinking and quick decision-making are the two skills you must not ignore if planning to take the seat of a manager.

Summing Up

While summing up, I would like to add a line here that my manager always says. He says he wants us to grow in our fields and become so competent that one day we call him to tell how we have overtaken his seat. This, I believe, is the guts a team manager must have. And this can only be achieved if you have all the above team management skills.

Author Bio

Claudia Jeffrey is currently working as a Senior Editor at Crowd Writer, where students often ask to do my assignment for me. Claudia loves to travel and explore the beauty of mother earth. She often blogs at Word Count Jet.

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7 Leadership Skills for Managers in Today's Workplace

Nearly everyone who’s worked for any significant length of time has taken issue with their boss at some point or another. The experience is so universal, in fact, that the concept of a troublesome manager has led to one Hollywood comedy after another.

While conflicts with managers may be great on-screen for getting laughs, poor management is disastrous for the bottom line. In fact, according to Gallup, it costs $7 billion a year globally—9-10% of the world’s GDP.

Why Leadership Skills for Managers Are Important

On a company-by-company basis, many of the costs of ineffective leaders are intangible. For instance, how can you measure the revenue your company might have achieved if only your managers were better strategic thinkers, or the kind of mentors who drew out hidden talent?

Other costs are easier to measure. In surveys of employee engagement, employees’ perceptions of their managers rise to the top as a major influencer, responsible for up to 70% of the difference in engagement rates between business units. And since engagement influences everything from productivity to turnover rates, that’s a figure companies should pay attention to.

Nevertheless, few companies give their management practices the attention they deserve. Grovo found that a shocking 98% of managers feel managers at their companies need more training on everything from strategic thinking to conflict resolution; 87% of them reported they wished they had received more leadership training themselves. Perhaps most significantly, 98% of respondents also said they believed KPIs like employee retention and revenue would improve with increased training.

Important Leadership Skills for Managers

While there are many ways to improve your people management skills, the first step is to identify which areas need improvement. Which skills will have the biggest impact on the bottom line? While technical skills are key for individual contributors, success as a leader tends to require a solid set of soft skills as well.

Here are seven key leadership skills for managers in today’s workforce. You can use this manager skills list as you weigh upskilling needs for your organization or advance professionally on your own.

1. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence—the ability to understand and control one’s own emotions, read and react appropriately to others’ emotions, and manage relationships—may sound simple. But according to Harvard Business Review, it accounts for nearly 90% of what makes high performers stand out.

2. Communication Skills

Strong leaders can effectively communicate their vision to both their team and those above them. But more than that, they must be able to adjust and tailor their communications appropriately for a wide array of situations and people, often across cultural and generational lines.

3. Delegation

No one can do it all. Managers who struggle to delegate are likely to have a difficult time meeting their department’s productivity goals and delivering the highest-quality work. But more than that, they can also discourage their employees. Effective managers identify the right team member to handle a specific task and ensure they have the knowledge and tools they need to get the job done.

4. Motivating Others

A motivated team is a productive team. But the drivers of motivation are highly personal. Capable managers are able to identify what motivates each member of their team—whether that’s opportunities for growth or simple recognition—and use that knowledge to keep them enthusiastic about that work. They also understand that treating employees with respect and fairness is a powerful motivator in and of itself.

5. Strategic Thinking

Today’s marketplace is shifting rapidly, from consumer demand to technology. Managers need to be able to see the big picture and think strategically to lead their teams to success. In this context, strategic thinking includes the ability to assess a situation, set realistic goals, and develop a plan to reach them. Strategic thinkers can adapt to changing circumstances and communicate their importance to their team and their own leadership.

6. Integrity

No one likes being treated unfairly, and employees who feel they are not respected by their manager or that they cannot trust their manager are likely to quickly disengage. Leaders who act with integrity, on the other hand, prioritize fairness and honesty, creating an environment of trust within their team.

7. Flexibility

As the pandemic has demonstrated, unexpected conditions can change the way we work at any time. Strong leaders can quickly assess new challenges and pivot as needed, even when it’s uncomfortable. Flexible managers understand that work and processes can always be improved, and don’t hang onto certain ways of doing things just for the sake of it.

Great leadership depends on a complex interplay of manager skills and circumstances, but it does not emerge on its own. Companies looking to improve their bottom line and build employee engagement should look first at how they train their managers. If they aren’t providing thorough leadership training and support to new and existing managers, they’re missing a key opportunity to improve company culture across the board.

By Rachel Hastings

Emeritus offers comprehensive programs designed to build leadership skills for managers in areas from strategic thinking to managing a global, mobile workforce. Learn more about how our Enterprise team provides comprehensive support to organizations ready to up-level their management teams.

You can also view our online leadership courses for individual enrollment.