When working inside a business, titles like leader, manager, and coach are often used interchangeably. However, these roles are distinct—and understanding the difference between a leader, manager, and coach is essential to improving your leadership skills and your team’s performance.
How do you know which role you’re playing at any given moment?
It all comes down to three simple questions: Why, What, and How.
Why = The Leader’s Question
As Simon Sinek famously put it, great leaders start with “Why.”
If you are acting as a leader, your main responsibility is to communicate the purpose behind your organization’s work.
- Why are we doing what we do?
- How does our work connect to a higher mission or value?
Leaders must inspire the team by giving clear and compelling reasons to believe in the organization’s vision.
What = The Manager’s Question
When operating as a manager, you shift focus to the “What.”
A manager defines:
- What goals the team should achieve?
- What priorities should be set?
- What projects different team members are assigned to?
Managers are responsible for providing structure, setting direction, and ensuring the organization stays aligned with its larger purpose.
How = The Coach’s Question
Coaches focus on execution and the question of “How.”
When you serve as a coach, your role is to:
- Guide the team through the process.
- Help eliminate obstacles.
- Support individuals in mastering their tasks.
A coach works closely on the front lines, ensuring that everyone understands their specific role in achieving the organization’s goals.
Real-World Examples of Shifting Between Roles
When I led an industrial products company with thousands of employees, I regularly switched between the roles of leader, manager, and coach:
- As a Leader, I would communicate our aspiration to become globally dominant in our markets—a “Why” that motivated our employees.
- As a Manager, I worked with teams to assess what new strategies or product adjustments could help us reach that vision.
- As a Coach, I attended project meetings, solved problems, and helped the team define how to successfully launch new products.
Today, in my role at The CEO Project, I still practice this leadership model, articulating the “why” behind our mission to impact one million lives.
Why Understanding Your Role Matters
In fast-paced organizations, knowing whether you need to lead, manage, or coach at any given moment can dramatically boost your effectiveness.
Each role requires a different set of actions and knowing whether you’re answering the Why, What, or How helps clarify your next steps and keeps your team aligned.
Remember:
- Leaders inspire why the work matters.
- Managers define what needs to be done.
- Coaches guide how it gets accomplished.
Mastering the ability to switch between these leadership roles ensures your organization stays focused, motivated, and capable of executing at the highest level.
