It was past 7pm. Again.

I was still at my desk. Again.

I was a new Head of Department. Working flat out and going nowhere…

Finance needed the budget spreadsheet yesterday. A timetable clash to sort out. A student complaint to deal with. Three forms for the Dean and HR. All day. Every day.

I was getting everything done. But I was exhausted and feeling like I wasn’t making a difference at all.

Because I was stuck in the leadership vs management trap.

Imagine you’re interviewing two people for a Department Chair or Head of School job.

On paper they’re almost identical. So you ask them:

Tell me how you’ve demonstrated leadership in your current role.”

The first says: “As Programme Director, I made sure every module had its paperwork in order. Learning outcomes mapped, moderation done, exam boards on time. In two years, we never missed a deadline.”

The second says: “As Course Lead I spent my first few weeks listening to students, staff, and industry partners. We figured out there was WAY more we could do with employers. So we got one of the industry partners to sponsor and co-create a new module. Two years on, it’s the students favourite course and our graduate employment scores have improved by 10%. “

Which one do you give the job to?

The purpose of management is ensuring compliance. There’s a handbook of policies, procedures, and deadlines. And your job is to follow the rules. Get stuff done. Done right. Done on time.

The purpose of leadership is making progress. Understanding your context. Finding ways to move things forward. And making them happen.

And don’t get me wrong. You need to do both. Leadership and Management aren’t enemies. They’re dance partners.

But… When you’re new in the role, they’ll hand you the rulebook. They’ll give you training on the policy, process, and systems. And then work will come at you 24 hours a day. The spreadsheets, timetables and forms for HR.

The leadership vs management trap is letting that relentless flow of compliance work become all that you do. Giving every minute to management.

Leadership success relies on you… making time… to ensure PROGRESS happens.

So that when you’re in your next leadership interview you have a good story to tell.

And so that when you’re tired because you’re working hard, you’ll KNOW it’s because you’re making a difference.