7 Differences Between Team Leader and Manager Responsibilities

Are you a team leader or a manager? Do you know the difference between these two roles? If not, you might be confused about your responsibilities and expectations. In this article, we will explain the main differences between team leader and manager responsibilities, and how to excel in each position.

Key Takeaways

Team leader and manager responsibilities are different in terms of scope, authority, decision-making, communication, and development.

To be a good team leader, you need to clarify your role and expectations, set SMART goals, delegate effectively, provide constructive feedback, and resolve conflicts constructively.

To be a good manager, you need to define your vision and mission, plan strategically, organize efficiently, direct effectively, and control carefully.

You can be both a team leader and a manager at the same time or at different times, switch between these roles depending on the situation or the need, and recognize that these roles are complementary and interdependent.

Team leader vs manager: what’s the difference?

A team leader is someone who leads a group of people working on a specific project or task. They are responsible for setting goals, assigning tasks, providing feedback, and resolving conflicts within the team. A team leader is usually a member of the team, who has some technical or functional expertise, and who can motivate and inspire others.

A manager is someone who oversees a department or a unit within an organization. They are responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the work of their subordinates. A manager has authority over the team leaders and other employees, and they can make decisions that affect the whole organization. A manager is usually a senior-level professional, who has strategic and operational skills, and who can align the team’s work with the organizational vision and mission.

Here are some of the main differences between team leader and manager responsibilities:

Scope: A team leader focuses on a specific project or task, while a manager oversees a broader area of work.
Authority: A team leader has limited authority over the team members, while a manager has formal authority over the team leaders and other employees.
Decision-making: A team leader makes decisions that affect the team’s performance, while a manager makes decisions that affect the organization’s performance.
Communication: A team leader communicates mainly with the team members and other stakeholders, while a manager communicates mainly with the senior management and external parties.
Development: A team leader develops the skills and competencies of the team members, while a manager develops the careers and potentials of the team leaders and other employees.

How to be a good team leader

If you are a team leader, here are some tips to help you succeed in your role:

Clarify your role and expectations

Make sure you understand your role and responsibilities as a team leader, and communicate them clearly to your team members. Also, clarify what you expect from them in terms of quality, quantity, and timeliness of work.

Set SMART goals

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These are the criteria that make your goals clear and realistic. Set SMART goals for yourself and your team, and track your progress regularly.

Delegate effectively

Delegation is the process of assigning tasks and authority to others. Delegating effectively means choosing the right person for the right task, providing clear instructions and resources, setting deadlines and milestones, and monitoring and evaluating the results.

Provide constructive feedback

Feedback is the information that you give or receive about the performance or behavior of yourself or others. Providing constructive feedback means giving positive and negative feedback in a way that helps improve performance or behavior. To provide constructive feedback, use the sandwich method: start with something positive, then state what needs improvement, and end with something positive again.

Resolve conflicts constructively

Conflict is the disagreement or clash between two or more parties. Resolving conflicts constructively means finding a solution that satisfies all parties involved. To resolve conflicts constructively, use the win-win approach: identify the problem, listen to each other’s perspectives, brainstorm possible solutions, evaluate the pros and cons of each solution, choose the best solution, and implement it.

How to be a good manager

If you are a manager, here are some tips to help you succeed in your role:

Define your vision and mission

Vision is the long-term goal or aspiration of your organization or department. Mission is the purpose or reason for your organization or department’s existence. Define your vision and mission clearly, and communicate them to your subordinates and stakeholders.

Plan strategically

Planning is the process of setting objectives, strategies, actions, and measures for achieving your vision and mission. Planning strategically means considering both internal and external factors that affect your organization or department’s performance. To plan strategically, use the SWOT analysis: identify your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Organize efficiently

Organizing is the process of arranging people, resources, processes, and structures to achieve your objectives. Organizing efficiently means optimizing the use of your available resources to maximize your output. To organize efficiently, use the 5S method: Sort (eliminate unnecessary items), Set in order (arrange necessary items in order), Shine (clean and maintain items), Standardize (establish rules and procedures), Sustain (monitor and improve continuously).

Direct effectively

Directing is the process of leading, motivating, influencing, and communicating with your subordinates to achieve your objectives. Directing effectively means using different leadership styles according to different situations and subordinates’ needs. To direct effectively, use the situational leadership model: identify your subordinates’ readiness level (low, medium, or high), and choose the appropriate leadership style (telling, selling, participating, or delegating).

Control carefully

Controlling is the process of measuring, comparing, and correcting your subordinates’ performance to ensure that your objectives are met. Controlling carefully means using different control methods according to different performance indicators and standards. To control carefully, use the balanced scorecard: measure your performance in four perspectives (financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth), and compare them with your predetermined targets.

Tips

Tip 1: Team leader and manager roles are not mutually exclusive. You can be both a team leader and a manager at the same time or at different times.

Tip 2: Team leader and manager roles are not fixed or static. You can switch between these roles depending on the situation or the need.

Tip 3: Team leader and manager roles are not superior or inferior to each other. They are complementary and interdependent roles that contribute to the success of the organization.

Team Leader vs Manager: A Statistical Report

In this report, we will analyse the differences and similarities between team leaders and managers, two senior roles in organisations that often overlap but have distinct functions and skills. We will also examine the global demand for these roles and how it has changed over time.

Team leaders

Team leaders are responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of their team, including assigning tasks, managing schedules and resolving conflicts. They ensure their assigned team works effectively and efficiently towards achieving its objectives. Team leaders also provide instruction, advice, tips for efficiency and work with staff members to develop goals. They communicate effectively with team members, higher management and other stakeholders, and motivate and support their team to perform well.

Managers

Managers oversee the overall performance of several teams within a department, project or the whole company. Managers focus on developing and implementing strategies to achieve the company’s larger mission and objectives. They manage a department’s resources, including its staff, finances and technology, and work with other managers to ensure the business functions proficiently. Managers also select team leaders and decide which groups each leader works with. They review the numbers for a department or organisation as a whole, considering how various groups work together and interact.

According to Indeed.com UK, the average salary for a team leader is £28,598 per year, while the average salary for a manager is £38,254 per year. The salary may vary depending on the industry, location, experience and qualifications of the candidates. According to Indeed.com SG, the average salary for a team leader is S$4,000 per month, while the average salary for a manager is S$6,500 per month.

The global demand for team leaders and managers has increased over time as organisations grow and require more coordination and leadership. According to EPAM Anywhere, a platform that connects remote workers with employers, the demand for team leads has grown by 25% in 2023 compared to 2022. The demand for managers has also increased by 15% in the same period. The growth in demand reflects the need for skilled professionals who can lead teams effectively and efficiently in a remote work environment.

Team leaders and managers are both senior roles in organisations that have different but complementary functions and skills. Team leaders focus on managing the day-to-day operations of their team, while managers focus on developing and implementing long-term strategies for the organisation. The global demand for both roles has increased over time as organisations expand and require more leadership and coordination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can a team leader become a manager?

A: Yes, a team leader can become a manager if they have the required qualifications, experience, and skills. However, becoming a manager also requires a change in mindset and attitude, as the roles and responsibilities are different.

Q2: What are the skills of a team leader?

A: Some of the skills of a team leader are: communication, collaboration, problem-solving, decision-making, creativity, innovation, motivation, and feedback.

Q3: What are the skills of a manager?

A: Some of the skills of a manager are: vision, mission, planning, organizing, directing, controlling, strategy, analysis, evaluation, and improvement.

Q4: How to transition from a team leader to a manager?

A: Some of the steps to transition from a team leader to a manager are: prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the change, learn from other managers and mentors, update your knowledge and skills, communicate your expectations and goals to your subordinates and superiors, delegate tasks and authority to your team leaders, monitor and evaluate their performance, provide them with feedback and support, and celebrate their achievements.

Q5: How to manage multiple teams as a manager?

A: Some of the tips to manage multiple teams as a manager are: define your vision and mission for each team, set clear and realistic goals and objectives for each team, align the teams’ work with the organizational strategy, coordinate and communicate with the team leaders regularly, empower and trust the team leaders to lead their teams, resolve any conflicts or issues between or within the teams, and recognize and reward the teams’ efforts and results.

References:

http://paarco.com/Articles/040507%20Managers%20and%20Leaders%20Are%20They%20Different.pdf

https://www.timothyxmerritt.com/post/what-is-team-leadership-part-1

https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/manager-vs-team-leader
https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/team-leader-vs-manager
https://sg.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/team-leader-vs-manager
https://www.indeed.com.sg/salaries/team-leader-Salaries
https://anywhere.epam.com/en/blog/lead-vs-manager-understanding-the-differences

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/team-leader-vs-manager
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/team-leader-skills-for-resumes-cover-letters-and-interviews-2063767
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/management-skills-list-and-examples-2062457