CPD – The Difference Between Leadership and Management

The roles of leadership and management have a significant impact on the people they handle. These impacts can be positive or it can also be negative. Now, the outcome depends on whether the manager or leader is skilled and qualified. A strong leader and manager can motivate, guide, and improve team performance, while an unskilled one may create confusion, low morale, or inefficiency.

Here in this course, CPD – The Difference Between Leadership and Management, you will learn how leading is different from managing and vice versa. You will also discover how each difference and similarity benefits the team and makes a good impact on the whole organisation.

Leadership Vs Management

Leadership and management play vital roles in different aspects of life, including work, school, and politics. Though these roles are mostly used interchangeably as they have similarities, both concepts are not the same as they have differences in multiple things.

The similarity between leadership and management lies in their shared goal of achieving great results. Both leaders and managers want their teams to succeed and grow. While their roles may differ, they share the same intent and can use similar ways to reach their targets. Besides that, to effectively reach goals, both leaders and managers must have strong communication skills to convey their vision and expectations.

Now in contrast to that, the core of their difference lies in their approach to achieving goals. Managers focus on methods or processes to achieve results. This means that they rely on organised steps to ensure efficiency. As opposed to that, leaders prioritise people. They inspire them to work together toward a shared vision and motivate them to reach the goal.

5 Leadership and Management Styles

As stated above, management focuses on process, and leadership focuses on people. Both roles have different styles to cater to specific needs. But, despite their differences, leadership and management use the same terms for styles. Below are the terms of styles and how they differ for leadership and management.

Autocratic Style

• Management: In the autocratic style, the manager controls all the processes. This style focuses on keeping strict processes and ensuring everything follows the set steps to achieve efficiency and control.
• Leadership: As a comparison, an autocratic leader may not put too much value on team input. They will only provide clear direction and expect the team to follow. The focus is still on guiding people to follow orders.

Democratic Style

• Management: In a democratic style, the manager is still in charge but asks the team for ideas and opinions. Decisions are made after listening to everyone, making sure all voices are heard.
• Leadership: A democratic leader makes everyone feel important and part of the team. They create a friendly and supportive environment where people are inspired to work towards the same goal.

Laisses-Faire Style

• Management: The manager takes a hands-off approach, allowing the team to handle tasks in their way. They give resources and support but do not closely control how work is done.
• Leadership: The leader trusts and empowers members of their team to make their own decisions. They guide and support team members when needed but let each one take responsibility for their work. Combining this leadership and management results in a more flexible environment for the team.

Transactional Style

• Management: The manager ensures that tasks follow clear steps and rules. They track progress, set goals, and use rewards or penalties to keep work on schedule.
• Leadership: The leader motivates the team by setting clear expectations and using rewards or feedback to encourage good performance and accountability.

Transformational Style

• Management: The manager focuses on improving processes for long-term success. They allow flexibility and encourage innovation to reach goals efficiently.
• Leadership: The leader inspires and supports the team’s personal growth. They help individuals develop their skills and motivate them to achieve big goals.

How does leadership and management work together?

When you manage people while leading in a way that uplifts them, it will create a balanced and high-performing environment. As a result, the team will not only achieve efficient results but also feel motivated and engaged in their work. To put it simply, leadership and management in handling a team or organisation is a great move.

Moreover, the two roles are different but can be done by the same person. Through the right skills and character, a person can rightly manage processes and lead people, ensuring both structure and inspiration are in place for success. This combination fosters a productive and united team dynamic, where everyone works toward shared goals with clarity and joy.

Course Description

The course CPD – The Difference Between Leadership and Management, is designed to help you learn leadership and management skills. Aside from that, you also learn how to communicate effectively, adding to your effectiveness as a leader or manager. Lastly, this course also shows how to combine managing with leading to create a strong team environment while achieving goals.

The course is perfect for people already in management or leadership roles, or those aiming to boost their careers. By the end, you’ll know how to make better decisions, inspire your team, improve communication, and feel more confident in both managing and leading your team.

Course Topics

This course is made up of different topics that will help you be effective in leadership and management. Each topic focuses on matters that amount to being a good leader and manager. Aside from that, it also provides exercises to help you practise what you learn and apply it to real-life situations.

1. Management Skills: Learn to plan, make decisions, manage time, and optimise processes. Practise problem-solving, managing resources, and handling risks.
2. Leadership Skills: Understand leadership styles, motivate teams, build trust, use emotional intelligence, and handle tough conversations.
3. How to Incorporate Leadership in Management and vice versa: Blend leadership with management. Create a vision, encourage collaboration, inspire creativity, and manage tasks to achieve goals.
4. Effective Communication: Master listening, body language, and adjusting messages for different audiences. Practise giving feedback, managing conflict, and using digital tools for communication.
5. Practical Exercise: Application of theories for real-life scenarios or examples.

Entry Requirements

No entry requirements—this programme is open to everyone! No qualifications, exams, or experience are needed. Whether you're a beginner or have prior knowledge, you’re welcome to join. All you need is a willingness to learn and participate. Enjoy a flexible and inclusive learning experience designed for all skill levels.

Are you a manager or a leader?

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. This statement explains that management is about “how” to do things while leadership focuses on “why” we do things.

Combining the two concepts benefits the organisation as well as the team. In the College of Contract Management, we believe that everyone can learn to be a leader and manager. Our course CPD – The Difference Between Leadership and Management is a great programme to hone skills in both roles. Join us and take the first step in making great impacts!

The schedule for the CPD – The Difference Between Leadership and Management is nearing completion. We’ll supply all the course materials and tools needed to make your learning effective. Should you need any help, please contact us via email or live chat for quick support.