In our human capital development training work, I am often asked, "What is the difference between leadership skills and management skills?"

This is a good question as there is a difference in how we conduct leadership training versus how we conduct management training. The following comparisons may help you see the difference:

Leader Skills Versus Manager Skills

* Leadership Skills ... Setting agendas, goals, and missions
* Management Skills ... Executing agendas, goals, and missions

* Leadership Skills ... Motivating the spirit
* Management Skills ... Getting pragmatic things done

* Leadership Skills ... Influencing
* Management Skills ... Delegating work

* Leadership Skills ... Facilitating progress
* Management Skills ... Bringing out the best in people

* Leadership Skills ... Providing a good example
* Management Skills ... Fostering cooperation/team playing

* Leadership Skills ... Confronting issues
* Management Skills ... Making quality supporting decisions

* Leadership Skills ... Managing conflict
* Management Skills ... Managing conflict

* Leadership Skills ... Teaching and mentoring other leaders
* Management Skills ... Training personnel and other managers

* Leadership Skills ... Communicating effectively
* Management Skills ... Communicating effectively

* Leadership Skills ... Setting priorities
* Management Skills ... Supervising total effort

* Leadership Skills ... Seeking and taking personal responsibility
* Management Skills ... Being dependable, reliable, honest and responsible

"A man grows most tired when standing still ... Chinese Proverb."