Manager vs. leader, what are the differences?

The terms "leader" and "manager" are often used synonymously in the business world. However, these two functions differ in many ways. What are the roles, characteristics and essential qualities of these two key players in the company? Here, we take a look.  

The manager: role, qualities and missions

The manager holds a clear and official position within a company. Their authority is therefore directly linked to their job position and hierarchical standing. The manager's role is to act as a link between the company’s management and its employees and to ensure the operational efficiency of the teams in the field. The local manager is responsible for defining an action plan, steering projects and delegating tasks in order to achieve the objectives set within a timeframe, using the resources and the budget provided. The manager is above all a project facilitator: they are focused on objectives and the achievement of results. The essential qualities and managerial skills of a good manager include, among others:

• Organisation
• Pragmatism
• Listening skills
• Emotional intelligence
• A sense of pedagogy
• Adaptability
• Empathy

Field managers must also ensure the well-being of their employees and deliver benevolent and constructive feedback to help their teams evolve. They are also required to master the various project management tools (agile methods, setting SMART objectives, SCRUM method, Lean management, etc.) and to develop an operational management style adapted to the context and personalities that make up their team (“situational management”, in other words). → To learn more about the different leadership styles, see our article on the various types of management. In addition, the manager-coach must enhance the professional development of each employee and boost their daily commitment; a fundamental part of the manager's responsibilities. Lastly, a good manager must be there to encourage collective intelligence, collaboration and mutual aid within the team (as part of participative management, or collaborative management versus directive management).  

The leader: role, qualities and missions

The leader is recognised as such by the members of the group: their status is informal, and they have no official hierarchical position in relation to specific subordinates. It is thanks to their qualities, know-how and interpersonal skills that they hold this position within the company. The leader can be the manager, or an employee who stands out through genuine natural leadership. It could even be the company director themselves. The role of the leader within a team is above all to be the group’s driver. They are a force for proposals and initiatives, motivate teams and do not hesitate to shake up established codes. They are a real catalyst for change and innovation, advising, guiding, influencing and uniting the other employees. Their expertise, accomplishments and ideas command respect, loyalty and admiration, conferring them a solid reputation within the group. Essential qualities of a good leader include:

• Charisma
• Leadership
• Natural authority
• Honesty
• Authenticity
• Exemplarity,
• Relational ease
• Communication skills
• Enthusiasm
• Managerial coaching
• Decision-making
• Audacity and the ability to take risks

A true business leader has a clear, strong and engaging long-term vision that inspires and motivates the group in a natural way.  

Manager vs. leader: differences and similarities

The following is an overview of the main differences between management and leadership:

• The leader is charismatic, without being authoritarian. The leader seeks to generate change while the manager seeks to improve existing ways of working.
• The leader takes risks while the manager controls risks.
• The leader shakes up existing models while the manager reproduces patterns that they know to be effective, relying primarily on what they have learned.
• The leader knows how to innovate and constantly evolve to ensure the company's competitiveness, whereas the manager focuses above all on achieving short-term objectives.
• The leader orients their decisions around a final vision, while the manager is focused on objectives.
• Being a leader also means federating, advising and motivating employees, whereas the manager directs the team, assigns and controls tasks, organises processes, etc.

  As we can see, there are a number of distinctions between leadership and management, but these two notions are not inseparable. It is not necessary to be a manager to be a leader, and being a manager does not always mean being a good leader! However, to be a good manager, leadership qualities are essential to ensure operational performance, motivation and the commitment of employees.