- Future of Business w/ Delaney McGuire
- Posts
- Leadership vs Management, are they the same?
Leadership vs Management, are they the same?

What is the difference between leadership and management?
Anyone can manage.
To me, management is maintenance.
It's rule following.
It's executing on SOPs... cold & robotic.
Leadership though is different.
Leadership empowers.
Leadership excites, motivates & expands the capacity of one's team.
Leadership taps into the realm of possibilities, inspiring those involved to innovate.
Leadership is about service, not control.
It is about asking "what do you need?", "how can I best support you in achieving your goals?" "what's preventing you from being fully effective in your role?" and doing everything in your power to remove those blockers.
Leadership is about co-creation, not dictation.
Rather than "here's the plan, make it happen".. leaderships says "Here's a plan, how can we make it better? Where are the gaps? Is it realistic? How do we achieve our goals as effectively as possible, together."
Leadership is about trust.
It is seeing the best in your team, giving them opportunities to fully own their work, step up and solve new problems.
Leadership is about safety.
It is creating a space where everyone feels safe to express their true feelings, beliefs & views without reprimand.
A space where dissenting opinions are welcomed, where criticizing ideas is not the same as criticizing the person behind them. Where emotions are regulated, views are heard, and optimal solutions are formed through the back-and-forth of effective communication.
Anyone can manage...
And I truly believe that anyone can also lead...
Just as with any skill, it can be learned through repetition, practice & intention.
These are my views on leadership in the workplace. What am I missing? What else would you guys add?