While strategic vision is a necessary quality for any director position, it is a high-risk, high-reward responsibility. From deadlines to timetables, to setting company or team goals, to setting the bar on key outcomes, a director’s strategic eye must transcend a singular vision. While managers implement the strategies they are provided, it is up to the director to formulate what success will look like. In this case, director vs manager has to do with the strategic view of activities that one must take. Rather than having his hand on the wheel of the ship, the director is charting the course to come before delivering instructions to the managers below him to carry out. This position is tasked, instead, with formulating what will be next on the company or division’s agenda. If the company or division is a ship, the manager is the one with his hand on the wheel, keeping everyone on the right course.Ī director, however, is focused not simply on today’s implementation of corporate initiatives. For example, a manager may be more involved in overseeing employees and supervising the implementation of team or company-wide initiatives. In most organizations, a manager is tasked with day-to-day concerns.
In these cases, a director may need to step into that manager role more often and provide more hands-on mentorship than may be expected in an organization where the road to the manager position can be a decade or more. These managers may have been promoted or otherwise recognized for their intellect, drive or excellence as employees but they may lack the ability to harness the softer skills that can drive their teams to success. In some organizations-particularly newer or smaller companies or those with a fast track up the corporate ladder-a director may find herself beset with a flock of first-time or relatively inexperienced managers. However, there can be overlap in many cases. These types of personnel-based skills can often be vital to a manager’s success but not necessarily required of a director. Managers, conversely, may be expected to encourage, mentor, discipline and evaluate employees on a more frequent basis. In a healthy organization, employees will typically require closer supervision than managers, giving directors more time and space to work on high-level tasks. hands-off.īefore diving into the differences between a director vs manager, it’s vital to understand where the two overlap. What is The Difference Between a Director vs Manager? Hands-on vs. Keep in mind, however, where some executives hold both roles, some of the job skills and requirements described below may both be needed for optimal performance. While the roles of manager and director are not necessarily mutually exclusive-some directors are also managers and vice versa depending on a corporation’s particular structure- here’s the breakdown on the primary differences between these titles and how you can advance between them. Many people wonder what is the difference between a director vs manager? Both are types of leadership, but there are distinctions. But in paving your own route to reaching your career goals, understanding that there is more to a specific title than nomenclature alone can help hone your strategy. Updated June, 2021 No corner office is one size fits all.Įvery executive’s path to the top of her organization is unique and cannot simply be replicated to achieve certain success.