There is a big difference between being a boss and being a leader. Most people measure a person’s success in business on how well they lead, vs how well they are ‘the boss’.
There a few key nuances here:
- A boss dictates whereas a leader collaborates
- A boss thoughtlessly relegates work, whereas a leader carefully & thoughtfully delegates work
- A boss commands respect, whereas a leader gives it and earns it
- A boss tells what to do, a leader asks for ideas for solutions and how to do things
- A boss may at times be feared, whereas a leader will always be revered
- A boss gets just enough out of their people, but a leader will have a team that always gives over and above.
Having a title as the boss does not make you a good leader. Leadership is something that must be worked on, it must be carefully planned and considered and then worked on some more. A leader must always be mindfully assessing their own performance, then readjusting once they learn where their areas for development are. A leader knows that they will never be perfect, but works hard on trying to get there.
Good leaders motivate and inspire their people. They act and lead by example and they never expect people to do something they would not do themselves. They see the best in people, even when those people turn out to be better than they are themselves.
Good leaders are grateful, cheerful and always recognise good work. They reward great behavior rather than just punishing poor behavior. They raise the bar, but support the team to reach that bar through education and training, not just raising it and expecting it to just be done perfectly. They celebrate failure by recognising that when people are making their best attempts, they are learning and growing even when they don’t get it right every time.
Great leaders are open. To ideas that are better than their own. To people who are better than they are. They are open to feedback when they don’t get it right themselves. They are ready to change at all times and to improve for the better of their team.
As you can see, being the boss is not enough. It is leadership that mobilises teams and sets bosses free. If you want time, more money, more respect - you must lead, not just be ‘The Boss’.
