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Written by Grant Longstaff. Published 13 November 2026.
What is leadership?
It’s generally accepted that leadership is about motivation, inspiration, creativity and change. Leaders tend to focus on the bigger picture. They’re the “ideas person”, encouraging others to see their vision and inspiring them to help create it.
What is management?
If leadership is focused on the overall concept, management ensures everyone plays their part. Managers are responsible for organisation and strategy; they oversee tasks and allocate resources and take care of the day-to-day operation.
Leadership vs Management
There are key differences between leadership and management, however, because the terms often seen as one and the same, it causes confusion.
John Kotter, Emeritus at the Harvard Business School and prominent commentator on leadership and management, clarified the distinction between the two. He described management as “…a set of processes that keep an organisation functioning...The processes are about planning, budgeting, staffing, clarifying jobs, measuring performance, and problem-solving when results did not go to plan.”
Conversely, Kotter described leadership as “the vision work” and went on to explain that “in a sense, leaders create the system that managers manage and, as the world changes, they’re the central force in helping organisations adapt.”
Why businesses need both leadership and management
There’s probably a sense that leadership is more glamourous than management. Regardless of what you think of them, the individuals behind some of the most successful companies in the world have gained public notoriety and became almost as famous as the companies themselves. However, the reality is that, without managers, and indeed those people who answer to managers, very little would get done. Kotter suggested that whilst we can learn from leaders such as Steve Jobs, he warns that they’re uncommon and “praying for a few more of them to solve the world's problems is not a great idea."
Dame Mary Marsh, the founding director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme, an organisation that develop leaders with a social purpose, told The Guardian: "Leadership needs to be clear and strategic, but it also needs to be collaborative…You've got to be able to listen, to engage, to emphasise.”
For any business or organisation to be successful you need to have both managers and leaders. It’s imperative that individuals realise where their strengths lie. Someone may have an idea, but they could lack the necessary business acumen to realise it. Businesses need experts in project management, budgeting, operational processes and problem solving. Truly great leaders will realise the skills and attributes of their managers and make the best possible use of them. They’ll delegate tasks to those better equipped to tackle them and, given trust and autonomy, managers will thrive in return.
How to develop leadership and management skills?
Some of the skills needed to succeed in leadership or management are things you’re likely already aware of and possess. Effective communication, problem solving, organisation and task prioritisation and confidence in dealing with change are just some examples of such skills.
That said, research by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) carried out a study into the state of UK management and leadership. The report states people “with formal management training are significantly more likely to trust their team [and] feel comfortable leading change initiatives”. But the research showed that 82% of managers who enter management positions have not had any formal management or leadership training, and 52% of managers don’t have a management and leadership qualification. Ultimately, the study found “good business performance is positively correlated with all elements of good leadership”.
So how can you develop skills in leadership and management? Some of our business degrees are accredited by the CMI which means you’ll develop essential skills in management and leadership throughout your course. It also means that once you graduate you can apply for a CMI qualification without having to complete additional coursework or exams. Undergraduate students on eligible degrees can apply for a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership and eligible postgraduate students can apply for a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.
Ann Francke, Chief Executive of the CMI, said: “The difference that skilled management can make, the results it can deliver, cannot be overstated”. However, qualifications can’t teach you everything you need to become an effective leader or great manager. Many of these skills will need honed in the workplace and can be enhanced through experience and observation. Follow the work of managers you respect and don’t be afraid to reach out to leaders you admire. The best of them will be willing to help.
If you’re interested in developing your leadership and management skills take a look at our range of business degrees and enrol today.
