Apr 10 / Jackie Kennedy

Managers vs Leaders: Why Your Team Needs You to Be Both

There was a point in my leadership journey where everything was working, but something still felt off. The team was delivering, projects were moving, and goals were being met. On the surface, it looked like success. Underneath, I could sense a shift.

Energy felt flatter than usual. It felt like everyone was taking the ‘clock in, clock out’ approach. Innovation had slowed, not because people weren’t capable, but because the space for it wasn’t there.

That’s when I realised: I was spending most of my time managing, when what the team really needed in that moment was leadership.

Not a reinvention, just a recalibration.

Since then, in my work coaching leaders and with all the companies that have come through LeadMe Academy, I’ve seen this show up time and again. Not as a failure, but as a moment to pause and ask: Am I in the right mode for what my team needs right now?

The most effective leaders I’ve worked with don’t just know the difference between managing and leading; they actively choose between them, depending on the moment.

Managing vs Leading: It’s Not Either/Or

We often think of these as opposites, but they’re actually complementary:

  • Managers keep things steady. They plan, organise, and drive accountability. 
  • Leaders create motion. They challenge, inspire, and make space for growth.

You need structure and stretch. Clarity and courage.
Management skills and leadership instincts.

Reflective questions for leaders:

Where am I managing when I could be leading? And where does my team need me to anchor instead of stretch?

Which of my team members are over-indexing on one skill set, and what could shift if they fine-tuned the other?

Am I clear on what leadership looks like at this level, in this season of growth?

Coaching-style prompts to bring into your 1:1s with leaders of leaders:

"Where do you feel most comfortable, leading or managing? What impact is that having?"

"What would it look like to lead this situation instead of manage it?"

"How could you help your team build confidence in both skill sets, not just one?"

📥 Download our free toolkit

Our LeadMe Academy team put together this Managing vs Leading: The Need for Both toolkit for leaders like you — those navigating growth, guiding teams, and wanting to strengthen both skill sets across their organisation.

It’s practical, reflective, and ready to use with your teams.

👉Download it for free

Whether you’re leading through change, scaling growth, or just recalibrating after a busy quarter, this is the work. Fine-tuning, not overhauling. Choosing, not defaulting.

Leading and managing – with intention.

— Jackie
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