5 Things Managers Do That Leaders Never Would, According to Simon Sinek Simon Sinek distinguishes between managers and leaders by how they behave, especially under pressure. Leadership is a daily choice to treat people as humans, build trust, and empower others rather than just enforce rules. Key Differences Between Managers and Leaders Information Sharing Managers hoard information to maintain control. Leaders overshare details transparently, building trust by saying what they know, don’t know, and what worries them. Advice: Share more openly; ask "What’s the worst/best that happens if I share this?" Using Policies Managers weaponize rules, strictly enforcing policy to avoid hard decisions. Leaders bend rules to help people succeed, using policies as guardrails, not handcuffs. Advice: When policy is an obstacle, seek to understand and find solutions collaboratively. Handling Terminations Managers fire fast, often abruptly. Leaders coach first, help employees transition gracefully, and preserve dignity. Advice: If letting someone go, help them find a better fit elsewhere. Difficult Conversations Managers avoid or sugarcoat tough talks. Leaders lean into discomfort, hold candid, caring conversations. Advice: Recognize the discomfort and tackle necessary conversations anyway—they’re acts of kindness. Rewarding Behavior Managers reward compliance and agreement. Leaders reward dissent and constructive challenge, knowing it leads to improvement. Advice: Thank people who challenge ideas and invite them to elaborate, even if it stings. --- Summary Leadership is less about title and more about courage and choices. Leaders see people as humans, promote transparency, are flexible with rules, provide supportive coaching, confront difficult issues, and encourage honest dialogue. Every interaction offers an opportunity to lead by choosing trust over control and collaboration over compliance. --- Additional Resources Explore Simon Sinek's The Optimism Library for over 50 career-building classes, exclusive insights, and self-paced learning. Popular leadership articles and resources are available on the site to deepen understanding of leadership principles. --- About This Article Authored by Team Simon, published September 18, 2025 Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Shares practical leadership advice from Simon Sinek’s ongoing study of leadership versus management behavioral patterns. --- Related Reads The Day I Learned the Difference Between Being Important and Being a Leader One Simple and Effective Leadership Skill Nobody Teaches 6 Shocking Stats That Prove Middle Managers Are in Crisis The Leadership Trick That Takes 3 Minutes and Changes Everything Would You Still Lead If No One Ever Knew Your Name? --- Simon Sinek emphasizes that leadership is a choice made every day through actions that empower and respect others, thereby creating environments where people can thrive.