7 Leadership Skills vs Management Skills You Need to Know
Are you a leader or a manager? This is a question that many people ask themselves, and the answer is not always clear. Leadership and management are two different but complementary skills that are essential for any successful organization. In this article, we will explore the differences and similarities between leadership skills vs management skills, and how you can develop both to achieve your goals.
Key Takeaways
Leadership skills vs management skills are two different but complementary sets of abilities that are essential for any successful organization.
Leadership skills involve creating a compelling vision of the future, communicating it effectively, building trust and rapport, empowering and developing others, and leading by example.
Management skills involve setting goals and objectives, designing strategies and plans, allocating resources and budgets, monitoring progress and performance, and evaluating results.
You can develop both sets of skills by seeking feedback, learning from others, practicing your skills, and seeking coaching or mentoring.
You can balance both sets of skills by understanding your role, level of responsibility, and personal preferences. You can also adapt your style and approach to suit the needs and expectations of your team, organization, and stakeholders.
What are Leadership Skills?
Leadership skills are the abilities that enable you to inspire, motivate, and influence others to achieve a common vision. Leadership skills involve creating a compelling vision of the future, communicating it effectively, building trust and rapport, empowering and developing others, and leading by example. Some of the key leadership skills are:
- Vision: A leader has a clear and compelling vision of where they want to go and why. They can articulate this vision to others and inspire them to join the journey.
- Communication: A leader can communicate their vision, goals, expectations, and feedback in a clear, concise, and persuasive way. They can adapt their communication style to different audiences and situations and listen actively to understand others’ perspectives and needs.
- Emotional intelligence: A leader can recognize and manage their own emotions, as well as empathize with and influence the emotions of others. They can build positive relationships, resolve conflicts, and collaborate effectively with diverse people.
- Creativity: A leader can think outside the box, generate new ideas, and find innovative solutions to problems. They can encourage creativity and innovation in others, and foster a culture of learning and experimentation.
- Decision making: A leader can analyze information, weigh pros and cons, and make sound decisions in a timely manner. They can also delegate tasks, involve others in decision making, and take responsibility for the outcomes.
What are Management Skills?
Management skills are the abilities that enable you to plan, organize, coordinate, and control resources and processes to achieve specific objectives. Management skills involve setting goals and objectives, designing strategies and plans, allocating resources and budgets, monitoring progress and performance, and evaluating results. Some of the key management skills are:
- Planning: A manager can set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals and objectives for themselves and their team. They can also design effective strategies and action plans to achieve them.
- Organizing: A manager can arrange people, tasks, resources, and information in an optimal way to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. They can also create clear roles and responsibilities, establish rules and procedures, and coordinate activities across different units or departments.
- Controlling: A manager can monitor the progress and performance of their team and projects against the goals and objectives. They can also measure results using appropriate indicators and tools, identify problems or deviations, and take corrective actions when needed.
- Evaluating: A manager can assess the outcomes of their team and projects against the goals and objectives. They can also provide constructive feedback to their team members, recognize achievements, celebrate successes, and learn from failures.
How to Develop Leadership Skills vs Management Skills
Both leadership skills vs management skills are important for any professional who wants to advance their career and make a positive impact on their organization. However, depending on your role, level of responsibility, and personal preferences, you may need to focus more on one set of skills than the other.
To develop your leadership skills vs management skills, you can:
- Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from your boss, peers, subordinates, customers, or mentors on your strengths and areas for improvement as a leader or a manager. You can also use self-assessment tools or surveys to evaluate your own skills.
- Learn from others: Observe how other successful leaders or managers behave and communicate in different situations. You can also read books or articles, watch videos or podcasts, or attend courses or workshops on leadership or management topics.
- Practice your skills: Look for opportunities to apply your leadership or management skills in your current or future projects or tasks. You can also volunteer for extra responsibilities or challenges that require you to use your skills.
- Seek coaching or mentoring: Find a coach or a mentor who can guide you through your leadership or management development journey. You can also join a peer group or network where you can share your experiences and learn from others.
Tips
- To be a good leader, you need to have a clear vision of where you want to go and why. You also need to communicate this vision effectively to others and inspire them to join you.
- To be a good manager, you need to have SMART goals and objectives for yourself and your team. You also need to design effective strategies and plans to achieve them.
- To be a good leader and manager, you need to have both emotional intelligence and analytical skills. You also need to build positive relationships with your team members and stakeholders.
Leadership Skills vs Management Skills: A Global Perspective
Leadership and management are two essential functions in any organization, but they are not the same. Leadership is the ability to inspire, motivate and guide others towards a common vision or goal, while management is the process of planning, organizing, directing and controlling resources to achieve organizational objectives. Both roles require different skills and qualities, and both are in high demand in the global market.
Global Demand for Leadership and Management Skills
According to a survey by Odgers Berndtson, a global executive search firm, boards are looking for true leaders with a combination of vision and operational agility; they also expect stronger results and stable, long-term growth. However, critical skills gaps exist; those capable of building a real strategic vision are in short supply, with many CEOs operating as ‘managers’ not ‘leaders’.
On the other hand, managers need to adapt to the changing needs of the workforce, especially the young generation, who are facing unprecedented challenges in finding work and developing skills. According to a report by Harvard Business Review, the global youth employment crisis has implications for social stability and equality that exceed anything we have experienced in our history; 1.3 billion youth — the largest young generation in the history of the planet — are about to attempt to enter the workforce. The report suggests four ways to bridge the global skills gap, one of which is to understand what skills future employees need, not just technical and job-specific skills, but emotional, relational, and communicative ones as well.
Leadership Skills vs Management Skills: What Are They?
While there is some overlap between leadership and management skills, they are not interchangeable. Here are some of the key differences between them:
- Leadership skills are focused on creating a vision and strategy for the organization or team, such as:
- Setting goals and objectives
- Communicating the vision and inspiring others
- Thinking creatively and innovatively
- Developing emotional intelligence and empathy
- Building trust and collaboration
- Influencing and persuading others
- Resolving conflicts and managing change
- Management skills are focused on executing the vision and strategy through processes and systems, such as:
- Planning and organizing tasks and resources
- Delegating and assigning responsibilities
- Monitoring and measuring performance
- Providing feedback and coaching
- Solving problems and making decisions
- Ensuring quality and compliance
- Managing time and stress
Leadership and management skills are both vital for the success of any organization, especially in the global market. However, they are not the same; leaders set the direction and motivate others, while managers ensure things get done on time and within budget. Both roles require different skills and qualities, which can be learned and developed through education, training, coaching, mentoring, and experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the difference between leadership skills vs management skills?
A1: Leadership skills are the abilities that enable you to inspire, motivate, and influence others to achieve a common vision. Management skills are the abilities that enable you to plan, organize, coordinate, and control resources and processes to achieve specific objectives.
Q2: Why are both leadership skills vs management skills important?
A2: Both leadership skills vs management skills are important for any professional who wants to advance their career and make a positive impact on their organization. Leadership skills help you to create and communicate a vision, build trust and rapport, empower and develop others, and lead by example. Management skills help you to set and achieve goals, design strategies and plans, allocate resources and budgets, monitor progress and performance, and evaluate results.
Q3: How can I develop my leadership skills vs management skills?
A3: You can develop your leadership skills vs management skills by seeking feedback, learning from others, practicing your skills, and seeking coaching or mentoring. You can also look for opportunities to apply your skills in your current or future projects or tasks.
Q4: What are some examples of leadership skills vs management skills?
A4: Some examples of leadership skills are vision, communication, emotional intelligence, creativity, and decision making. Some examples of management skills are planning, organizing, controlling, and evaluating.
Q5: How can I balance my leadership skills vs management skills?
A5: You can balance your leadership skills vs management skills by understanding your role, level of responsibility, and personal preferences. Depending on the situation, you may need to use more of one set of skills than the other. You can also adapt your style and approach to suit the needs and expectations of your team, organization, and stakeholders.
References:
https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w10206/w10206.pdf
https://www.goskills.com/Leadership-Management/Resources/Management-skills-vs-leadership-skills
https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/leadership-vs-management
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