Leadership vs Management
11 August 2025Leadership and management are two complementary dimensions of the same subject, both essential for the success of a company, but they are not the same thing.
- Leadership is about the ability to inspire, motivate, and guide people.
- Management is linked to planning, control, and the organization of processes.
In today’s workplace, which demands strategic vision, adaptability, problem-solving, and the ability to execute complex operations, understanding the difference between manager and leader and developing the related skills is a priority for anyone aspiring to become a complete business leader.
Leadership and management: definition and differences
Management means organizing resources, planning activities, and monitoring results. It is a function focused on “how to get things done” and is closely connected to tools such as project management, the discipline that enables planning, coordination, and completion of projects efficiently.
Leadership is the ability to convey a vision, motivate teams, lead change, and build trust. In other words, being a leader is not just about coordinating, but about inspiring and creating a favorable environment for both individual and collective growth.
The difference between a manager and a leader, therefore, lies in their approach: the former is focused on processes, the latter on people. In the modern business context, the two roles cannot be completely separated: a good manager must possess strong leadership skills, and an effective leader must be able to manage tasks and resources.
Soft skills for modern leadership
Leadership is the ability to influence, motivate, and guide a group toward common goals. It is not tied exclusively to a hierarchical position but to the ability to generate impact. The main soft skills required of a business leader are: empathy, the ability to understand and value people’s needs; effective communication, to convey clear and engaging messages, and decision-making, the ability to make timely decisions even in uncertain contexts
All of this must be guided by strategic thinking, capable of imagining future scenarios and steering the team toward that vision.
What are the different types of leadership?
Three types of leadership are commonly identified:
- Transactional leadership, based on rules, rewards, and measurable performance
- Transformational leadership, which inspires, motivates, and drives change
- Adaptive leadership, oriented toward flexibility and the management of complex, shifting contexts
If leadership is the set of qualities, skills, and behaviors that make it possible to guide a team or an organization, the leader is the one who puts these skills into practice to lead and steer the group.
How to become a leader: training at Bologna Business School
To become an effective leader, one must learn to develop personal qualities through mentoring, simulations, and role-playing, as well as project management and decision-making skills acquired through pragmatic training and real case studies.
Bologna Business School has always been committed to training managers capable of leading teams and to developing leadership skills, essential in all key corporate roles.
The Global MBA at BBS, offered in five different tracks (AI and Manufacturing; Food and Wine; Design, Fashion and Luxury Goods; Sustainability and Innovation; Supercars, Superbikes, and Motorsports), is a 12-month program that takes students on a journey of personal and professional growth in the world of excellence and luxury. Organized into interactive sessions in which students discuss real cases with business leaders, the Master combines theory, taught by international faculty, with practice, led by corporate managers. Supported by a global network and a strong Community, this Master makes management and leadership development the foundation for transforming passions into a successful career. Career services, internships, and EFMD accreditation guarantee the immediate value of the Global MBA in global markets.
The Executive Master in Public Management and Innovation, part-time, weekend-based, taught in Italian, and lasting 15 months, is designed for public administration managers who want to acquire advanced skills to manage performance, auditing, control, and risk, with the aim of generating and administering public value.
Management and leadership are at the core of this growth path, which aims to develop participants’ abilities so that they can take on top roles in organizations.
10 core courses and applied, hands-on activities make this Executive Master a laboratory for shaping a new class of territorial leaders, capable of operating beyond the traditional role and effectively bridging the public and private sectors.
The Open Program in Management Frontiers, part-time, hybrid, in English (4 online sessions + 2 on-campus days), is designed to develop transversal skills and capabilities applicable to any career path. It is aimed at achieving two results: self-management (time management, prioritization, emotional regulation, personal balance) and managing others through the development of leadership skills.
Through applied learning, the course provides tools in coaching, leadership, and mentoring, essential for managers facing complex scenarios.
The Open Program in Project Management, part-time on campus and online in the evenings, taught in Italian and lasting 5 days and 10 evenings, provides the tools needed to manage projects in the fast-changing contexts of today’s markets.
Multi-project management, project charters, work breakdown structures, and all topics related to project management are covered by a mixed faculty of academics and consultants, translating every aspect of organization and activity management into practical knowledge, a competence increasingly in demand by both large companies and small organizations.
Leadership and Management: the integration that leads to success
The dichotomy between leadership and management should not be interpreted as opposition, but as a necessary complementarity. Only by integrating the two dimensions can a business leader truly generate impact, guiding both people and processes toward concrete and sustainable results.
Through all its Masters and programs that integrate coaching, leadership development, mentoring, and direct interaction with business leaders, Bologna Business School is the ideal place to grow as a person first, and as a professional second, in order to become a leader capable of navigating complexity.
