The Differences Between Leadership & Supervising

You can lead in many ways without being a supervisor, but good supervisors often have good leadership skills. Top managers often have good leadership skills and effective supervising skills.



Formality
Leadership has formal and informal elements, while supervising is generally a formal rule in management. Some leaders have formal management roles such as executive, department manager, store manager and district manager. However, some leaders emerge through informal channels. They lead by example or motivate others without a formal leadership position. Supervising is a specific job function whereby you monitor and provide feedback and direction on the performance of subordinate employees. This typically comes with a management title.

Role of Followers
Leadership has no inherent requirement that others follow. Supervisors typically have an authoritative position over employees who are obligated by their job status to follow directions. Good leaders can inspire people to follow their vision and direction without formal title leadership. Supervisors have title authority over their employees but their ability to get cooperation and peak performance depends on their leadership qualities. Good supervising leaders are more likely to motivate followers to give their best.

Basis of Power
Leaders and supervisors can both have authority or power derived from their job titles. Informal leaders, though, can have the power to influence others without a powerful position. This enables charismatic or inspiring employees at all levels to lead teams and motivate workers. Supervisors who have good leadership skills can typically use these skills as their basis of power to influence. Supervisors who lack quality leadership skills might have to rely on their position power.

Coaching
Leadership typically means motivating or inspiring others to act in a way that benefits you, them or the organization. Supervising usually has a coaching element where the supervisor and employee interact. Leaders do not always have oversight responsibilities for the performance of others. Supervisors, by definition, do have subordinates and typically have responsibilities to help them set goals, develop and ultimately achieve those goals.