What is the difference between Leadership and Management – there is definitely some overlap, but the key distinction lies in … wait, you thought I was going to tell you in the opening? It’s going to take some time to talk through those distinctions before we get there …Welcome to EP 136: Leadership vs. Management

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Today we are talking about the nuanced distinction between leadership and management. In the circles I travel in, these terms are often used interchangeably, yet they encompass distinctive sets of skills, values, and priorities. We set today’s topic up for discussion during episode 134: Management 101 when attempting to answer the question “Do you have any pointers for architects who are transitioning into management roles.” I felt that we needed to clarify the difference between management and leadership to focus our conversation but recognized that there was a lot to unpack and discuss not only what sets leadership and management apart but also how their collaboration can propel an organization to the success they no doubt aim to achieve.

Since I like to do a little research and preparation for each show, I went back into the Life of an Architect archives to see what I had written or discussed in the past where Leadership and Management were concerned.

August 2013 - Leadership versus Management - the first time I pointedly thought on this subject.

July 2014 – Leadership - I was one of three people who presented a day-long symposium on the topic and where most of my initial research was started.

March 2017 – Attitude Reflects Leadership – anecdotal observation of how your behavior matters and how it impacts and influences others.

July 2020 - Ep 054: Leadership – had my sister on the show because she’s quite literally the most qualified person I’ve ever met to discuss what it means to be a leader (possibly read some of the topics/questions we covered)

September 2023 – Ep 134 Management 101 - discussing what it means to transition into management and how that is different from simply being good at your previous job.

In the very first post, I ended with a quote I found, and it has unintentionally become the foundation upon which most of my thoughts on leadership have been built. It was a quote from Margaret Thatcher, and I found it when researching a new role that I was transitioning into. It is:

“Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.”

If you have to tell people you’re the leader, you aren’t. “Leadership” and “Management” are inextricably linked to one another, but management is a role you are hired into while leadership is thrust upon you by others.

I went back through all of these remarkably insightful posts and episodes to organize today’s conversation into 5 Key areas of distinction where there overlap but the approach to the process of solution is different based on management or leadership.

For this "Vision and Strategy" image, I started with the basic concept of something old, but endeavoring to build (in secret) something centuries beyond assumed capacity, and the group captured this moment for posterity. Prompt: cowboys, high-tech stagecoach, no wheels, remote desert, Daguerreotype --ar 16:9 --s 750 --v 5.2 Iterations/Modifications to final image? 18

Vision and Strategy jump to 12:54

Management Focus: Managers focus on planning and executing strategies. They develop detailed plans, set targets, and ensure resources are allocated efficiently to meet objectives.

Leadership Focus: Leaders are visionary. They set the direction for the organization, articulate a compelling vision, and inspire others to share in that vision. They guide the development of a long-term strategy.

Advice: While managers implement strategies, leaders create the vision that drives those strategies. Both are essential for success; a well-executed strategy without a ...