Managing vs Leading

For many aspiring leaders, the first time they come across Leading versus Managing is when they are trying to write their application for their first leadership role. They often get stuck on distinguishing between actions that are leading versus those that are managing. For many states these terms turn up in the selection criteria teachers need to write to. Knowing the right kind of story to put in those places is relevant and that is why it is important to understand the different between leading and managing.

What is Managing in Education?

Think of managing as the engine room of your classroom, school, or department. It's about keeping the daily gears turning smoothly:

As an aspiring leader, management tasks can include:

• • • Taking on a responsibility that needs someone to run it, but there no improvement needed.
    • Doing a task that is individual and could not involve any other staff, is only benefiting another person in leadership or collecting infomation to hand off to someone else.
    • Being part of a group that maintains a process, such as being on a committee or leading a student club.
    • Creating timetables for a program/team/faculty.

 

What is Leading in Education?

Leading is about improvement. That can be improvement for one or many students, staff or community. Leading is often demonstrated by seeing a problem and making a change for the improved outcomes of our students.

As an aspiring leader, leading can look like:

 

• • • Driving improvement agendas that align with the schools annual strategic plan that are withing your responsibilities e.g. You're Year 9 English coordinator and the school AIP has signature literacy practices that you have lead your team to implement in  your subject.
    • Facilitating collaboration when you meet with a small group of staff. You ensure all members have delegated tasks that move the group towards the goal of the meeting.
    • Identifying a problem, develop an innovative solution and share this with your line manager to get approval for implementation.

 

How to tell the difference between leading vs managing?

Managing focuses on maintaining the status quo, while leading is about transforming the landscape. Ask yourself:

• • • Am I simply maintaining existing processes or actively seeking ways to improve them?
    • Am I providing clear direction and motivation, or just ensuring tasks are completed?
    • Am I empowering others to take ownership and innovate, or simply telling them what to do?

 

 

Why it matters as an aspiring leader?

While managing keeps the wheels turning, leadership is what fuels progress and lasting change. As an aspiring leader, you want to be the one building bridges, not just sweeping floors. This is because the majority of teachers are great at management tasks. We are experts at it due to our years of running an effective classroom...is all about management. If you apply for a role, and your application is filled with management asks, you will not be successful.

Management is about keeping the existing systems working and for all schools, we are ever changing. As more research comes out, our schools update their ways of working. Your ability to inspire, innovate, and drive positive change will ultimately define your impact on students, staff, and the entire educational ecosystem. This is what makes you a leader.

Which is more important as an aspiring leader?

Both. Leading and managing are important for any leader.

You need to build strong processes that keep everything running smoothly. If you cannot manage a team well, issues will arise.

And you need to show you can lead a team of people through a change. Implementing change will allow you to do it again and again during your career.

Hone your managerial skills to ensure smooth operations, but never let that stop you looking towards the improvement, leveraging  your leadership skills  as it will be this that will guide your team and institution towards a brighter future.

A Leadership Date can really help you to define where your attention is currently in each of your projects.

Finally

Remember, aspiring leaders, it's time to shed the janitor's coat and pick up the architect's blueprints. The future of education needs more bridge builders, and you have the potential to be one of them. So, start crafting your vision, inspiring your team, and driving transformative change – the education landscape awaits your leadership!

 

P.S. Get started on a regular Leadership Date here.