Leadership vs. Management: Why Both Skill Sets Matter for Professional Development

At MRA, we emphasize the importance of developing both leadership skills and management skills—especially for professionals in supervisory or team-leading roles. Understanding the difference between these two essential skill sets is a cornerstone of effective professional development.

Management Skills: Define Expectations Clearly

A common question I hear is:
“What do I do about an employee who only does just enough to get by?”

My answer?
“Praise them—they’re meeting expectations.”

This often surprises people. The follow-up response is usually, “Joe… they’re not meeting expectations!” That’s when I ask, “Then why do you call it ‘just enough to get by’?”

The key takeaway here is that managers must clearly define what it means to meet, exceed, or fall short of expectations. Vague standards lead to vague performance. My tip: eliminate the phrase “just enough to get by” and replace it with clearly articulated performance expectations. This is a foundational management skill that drives accountability and clarity.

Leadership Skills: Influence Over Delegation

Another frequent question is:
“How do I delegate to my peers?”

Here’s the thing—delegation isn’t a peer-to-peer tool. Instead, you need to use leadership skills like influence and negotiation. While delegation and negotiation both involve discussing mutual goals and setting clear expectations, the approach is different.

When influencing peers, speak to their interests and show a genuine commitment to addressing their concerns as well as your own. That’s how you build buy-in and move forward collaboratively.

The Fine Line Between Leadership and Management

While the line between leadership and management can be subtle, it’s crucial to recognize when to use each skill set. Defining expectations is a management responsibility. Influencing and negotiating with peers is a leadership function.

Mastering both is essential for anyone looking to grow in their role and contribute more effectively to their organization.

Building strong leadership and management skills is key to long-term professional success. At MRA, we offer a wide range of training programs to help you grow in both areas. Explore our Leadership Development programs to get started today.