Often, when I talk to my career coaching clients who want to progress into People, organisation, culture, and/or development roles, I get the question:

What is the difference?

While these are usually conflated and, in some cases, used interchangeably, there are some key differences.  

Thus, in this article, I want to focus on two key positions: People Development Directors and Organisational Development Directors.  While both roles focus on enhancing an organisation's capabilities, they have distinct roles and responsibilities.

While People Development Directors focus on the growth and development of individuals within the organisation, Organisational Development Directors take a more comprehensive approach, addressing the broader organisational structures, systems, and culture to ensure overall effectiveness and alignment with strategic goals. Here is a simplified breakdown of the key differences taken from what I understand them to be and some desk research on various job descrip...