The Never-Ending Battle between Power and Leadership
Do you work for Boss or a Leader?
Or
Are you a Boss or a Leader?
These two questions are very important since how we view both (boss and leader) has a lot of effect on how we work. There is a lot of collaboration, teamwork, dedication, hard-work required for a successful business, and the right guidance will help everyone steer to success. In the last decade, leaders are considered to be the people who are engaged with employees, build up the brands, love to take criticisms, solve problems with employees, and also look at managing employees in much better ways than how *bosses* do it. Thus, over the years, professionals are far more attached with a leader than they are with a boss. It’s more of a mentor and the mentee bond than anything else.
Bosses are everywhere, but leaders? Those are hard to find. When you’re in charge, it can be real easy to slip into the role of the *boss* when actually, what your team and your agency need is a leader. How do you know if you’re wearing your *boss* hat or your *leader* hat? Well, each has its own set of traits. Keep reading to know the difference –
A boss knows it all; a leader is always learning – A leader will always look to grow as a person and gain new insights and knowledge about their area of focus, whereas a boss who thinks they know everything there is about the world.
A boss criticizes; a leader uplifts – Constructive criticism is needed every now and then to help someone improve. But constantly being told what they are doing wrong not only discourages a person, but causes them to detach. Encouraging someone to improve and do their best energizes employees to work harder and smarter, is what a leader does.
Bosses can be good or bad; leaders are only good– You can have a great boss, and you can have a terrible boss, but you can only have a fantastic leader. That’s because leaders inspire their staffs to reach their full potential, which ultimately does wonders for their respective organizations.
A boss demands results; a leader inspires performance – Inspiring others to go above and beyond and perform better is something only leaders can accomplish. Whereas, the bosses can just demand for the outputs.
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A boss focuses on themselves; a leader focuses on the team – A *we* instead of a *me* attitude motivates people to collaborate, and do their best so in the end, everyone wins – not just one person individually.
Bosses expect employees to get things done; leaders coach them – Coaches help guide the team, but ultimately it’s up to the individual players to execute a strategy and adjust as they face challenges. Behind every great sports team there is a great coach. Being told what to do doesn’t grant itself to individual growth or help members develop problem-solving abilities.
A boss puts blame on others; a leader fixes the problems – No one wants to work for someone who places blame when things go wrong. A leader will share the blame when things go sour and take up responsibility for the team’s actions.
A boss will point out weaknesses; a leader recognizes natural gifts – By pointing out someone’s strengths, they feel empowered as well it helps them to know how they can best serve their team, whereas pointing out the weaknesses is what a boss does.
Bosses tell team members what to do, leaders ask who should do what– *I need you to do this*, *You must do this by Friday* are some of the commands or orders given the *BOSS* whereas *What do you think*, *Are you able to do this by Friday?* are some of the enquiries made by the *LEADER*
The difference between being a boss and being a leader may seem very small, but it means the world to the people who work for you.
You might be thinking to yourself, *But I am a good boss* — which may be true. However, the actual question you need to ask yourself is: *Am I a good leader?*
The problem: there are too many bosses, but very few leaders around. The difference is simple: leaders do whatever it takes to maximize their employer’s involvement; while bosses just want to enjoy the privilege of their position.
To twirl bosses into leaders, we must rethink our approach to leadership development.
*Often, the difference between a leader and a boss is asked. The leader leads, whereas the boss drives the answer.*
So, what are you? Are you a boss or a leader?
If you’re the former, it’s time to re-evaluate your approach to management. Your employees, their productivity, and your bottom line will definitely thank you.
As we look ahead into the next decade, leaders will be those who empower others. —Bill Gates