For Emerging Leaders — New managers, high-potential professionals, and first-time team leads navigating the early transition into leadership.
Why This Matters
Stepping into a leadership or management role for the first time can be overwhelming.
Many emerging leaders assume that being a good manager automatically makes them a leader, or that leadership is just about being charismatic and making decisions.
However, failing to distinguish leadership from management can lead to micromanagement, team misalignment, and a struggle to gain respect from peers and subordinates.
If you are an early-career professional, first-time manager, or new leader, understanding the balance between leadership and management is critical for your success.
- If you focus too much on management, you risk controlling every detail instead of inspiring your team.
- If you focus too much on leadership, you may lose sight of execution and fail to deliver results.
Jorge Loebl, in the Revolving Change podcast, explained:
“When I go back to when we started coaching, we talked about management styles, but we never talked about leadership styles. Leadership was intuitive, taken for granted. You're a good manager, so you become the boss and now you're the leader. That was the assumption. But today, we know that leadership and management require different skills, and emerging leaders must develop both.”
This blog will help you understand these differences, recognize when to lead versus when to manage, and build a strong leadership presence without falling into the trap of micromanagement.
Discover: Why New Leaders Struggle to Find Their Footing
The first step for emerging leaders is recognizing what leadership is versus what management is. Let’s break it down.
What is Leadership?
Leadership is about setting a vision, inspiring people, and influencing change. As a leader, you must:
- Define the bigger picture – Where is your team or company headed?
- Inspire and motivate – Encourage others to take ownership of their roles.
- Think long-term – Guide strategic direction rather than focusing on daily operations.
Example: A newly promoted team lead helps the department navigate a major transition, ensuring employees feel valued and motivated throughout the change.
Loebl explains:
“A leader will focus on the vision, motivating, rallying the company and the organization and all the other stakeholders… giving direction in terms of the path the company should follow to get there.”
What is Management?
Management is about execution, resource allocation, and efficiency. Managers:
- Translate leadership goals into actionable steps
- Ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly
- Track performance and maintain consistency
Example: A manager ensures that project deadlines are met, tasks are assigned efficiently, and operations run without bottlenecks.
Loebl emphasizes the necessity of this role:
“Management is going to execute on that vision. Their key focus is day-to-day operations. They need to make sure that the actions they take when they manage are pointing all the resources, all the noses, everybody in the right direction for the accomplishment of that vision.”
Design: Learn When to Step Up, and When to Step Back
When to Step Up as a Leader
Leadership is required when:
- Your team lacks direction and motivation
- You need to define a vision or make strategic decisions
- There is a major transition, crisis, or uncertainty that requires guidance
Example: A first-time manager notices low morale in the office. Instead of simply enforcing new policies, they rally the team with a shared vision for a more collaborative and engaged workplace.
Loebl describes how leaders ensure people feel connected to a greater mission:
“We need to keep our people understanding, no, we are not just putting stone on stone. We are building something greater, and they are playing a key role in achieving that.”
When to Focus on Management
Management is needed when:
- Your team needs clear execution plans and structured processes
- Deadlines and operational efficiency must be maintained
- You must analyze performance and solve immediate problems
Example: A new project lead ensures their team follows clear guidelines for completing tasks efficiently without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Loebl explains how effective management ensures that execution aligns with leadership’s vision:
“The manager will control the parts to make the whole move in the direction of leadership, but they need to ensure alignment. Otherwise, you end up with two people rowing in opposite directions, and the boat does not move.”
Deliver: Build Real Leadership Presence Without Micromanaging
1. Develop a Leadership Presence Without Micromanaging
Many first-time managers fall into the trap of micromanagement because they believe leadership means controlling every detail. Instead:
- Delegate tasks and trust your team to execute
- Communicate the vision instead of controlling every step
- Coach rather than command; help employees grow rather than dictating their every move
Loebl challenges emerging leaders to reflect on their approach:
“Bad judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from good judgment. If you micromanage, ask yourself: am I empowering my team or controlling them out of fear?”
2. Communicate Clearly to Align Teams
Both leadership and management require strong communication skills:
- Leaders must inspire and rally teams around a vision
- Managers must translate that vision into concrete steps
Example: Instead of simply assigning tasks, an emerging leader explains why the project matters and ensures employees feel a sense of ownership.
Loebl highlights the impact of strong communication:
“The role of leadership is also setting the values. The values come into now what I describe as the guardrails, the boundaries, the limits of what we do and what we don’t.”
3. Leverage Feedback Loops to Improve Leadership and Management Skills
Great leaders and managers seek constant feedback:
- Ask employees and peers how they perceive your leadership and management styles
- Adjust based on what is working and what is not
- Create a culture of open communication where feedback is valued
Joanna Edera, co-host of the podcast, shares her personal experience as an emerging leader:
“In my earlier years, I implemented some of these management styles in bad judgment. Now, I know how to implement them better because I learned from experience and feedback.”
Your Next Step: Build Leadership and Management Skills the Right Way
Start Leading with Confidence
Being a first-time leader can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
You can build your leadership presence while keeping execution strong.
Join any of our Memberships and start building the skills that accelerate trust, results, and career momentum.