Leadership vs. Management

I’m not sure if I’m completely right about this, lately, in this incarnation of DevHub, I’ve been noticing a distinct difference between leadership and management. By the way, one can’t exist without the other—and titles be damned, both are senior roles in any organization, in my humble opinion.

Leadership is vision.

That part sounds easy, right? Whew. 😅 Just kidding—vision is hard as hell. Some days, I see where we’re going as a company in crystal-clear focus, like it’s right in front of me. Other times, it’s like looking through a tiny pinhole of light. And yes, there are moments when it’s just vast darkness.

Vision is the story. The why. It’s the opportunity that makes anyone in the organization care. It’s the values you live by, the way you show up, and the culture you foster to help others thrive. It’s about creating a moment in time that centers on them, never you.

I think most leaders (assuming here) actually hate compliments because the job is never truly done. Wow—can’t believe I just wrote that. I guess I must be gaining some experience.

Management is people.

And in some ways, it’s the hardest part. It’s not enough to just tell people what to do—it’s about process.

What’s process? It’s how the job gets done, how you know it’s being done well, and how it’s documented. Process is alive, evolving as the company scales. It’s owning the process—the good and the bad—and adapting as needed with new information.

Management is also about elevating your team on a one-to-one basis. It’s being in the weeds when necessary and also working on the business. Hopefully, it’s a 20/80 split between the two.

Ultimately, life and business come down to experiences that provide perspective. I often find myself thinking about what I could’ve told my younger self in my 20s to shave off a decade of time. The truth is, I probably wouldn’t have listened back then.

If sharing this now can save someone else the time, then that’s what it’s for.

Cheers.