Most of us are pretty quick to use the words boss and leader interchangeably. But they are not the same, and at the end of the day, what most people want is the leader. With that in mind, it's easy to distinguish between bosses and leaders by behaviors. Bosses give orders and talk first, for example, while leaders give advice and listen. But something deep down at the core fuels those behavioral differences in the first place. Show When you look at some of the common things bosses do, such as using a lot of "I" language, taking credit and criticizing, you'll see that most of the behaviors undermine others, leaving the boss looking like the intelligent or skillful one. And generally speaking, most people want to look intelligent or skillful so they can get a cushy place high up on the social food chain. That high social standing, the subconscious reasoning goes, means protection not just against isolation, but also against other grossness like financial struggles. In essence, bosses aren't convinced they're locked in enough to be safe. Day after day, they assert authority to convince themselves they have it. Day after day, they try to build and maintain their ego by reminding you how much you don't know, can't do, or aren't qualified for. It's one individual defending themselves. Leaders commonly use inclusive pronouns like "we," and they're happy to praise and show others how to move forward. Rather than undermine, they build you up. That's because they don't feel threatened. They're confident enough in where they are that they feel stable, and they don't worry that helping others somehow will put their own standing at risk. In fact, they want to help, because they believe that, if they somehow get into trouble, those they've built up will come to aid. Through equality, everyone can defend everyone else, and power is in the group. In sum, what separates leaders from bosses is how they view power/status and the role of the individual versus the group. Now, I can't pinpoint why some people worry about their "place" more than others, or why those people think they have to protect themselves. It's probably a combination of nature and nurture. Personality likely shapes the experiences we have and the perception those experiences subsequently create for us. But personality is not totally stable. It can be influenced by behavior and experience. So while leadership might come more easily to some individuals than others, it's also something we absolutely can learn to be better at. To grow as a leader, what seems most essential is your network. It's critical to surround yourself with people who can encourage you, who can help you understand that you are appreciated and capable, despite whatever flaws you have. You need people who can push you to tackle new experiences that will stretch you and build your confidence, who can teach you to listen, observe, and share. You need people who can prove to you that there is kindness and cooperation in the world, and that not every corner has someone waiting to hurt you around it. But leadership is also a choice. All the mentors in the world mean nothing if you question and push back against everything they say, if you tell yourself that somehow they're not being real with you. You have to consciously decide to accept that you have biases and fears just like everyone else, and take what others say to you with an open but logical mind. This is often more difficult than it sounds, because sometimes we can't even pinpoint exactly what the source(s) of our biases and fears are. And if that's the case for you, it's OK. You simply have to tell yourself, "I might not know why, but I know that's not how I want to be, and I am capable of learning a new truth and changing how I behave." Let's reiterate that one more time, so it sinks in. You might not know why you're scared of specific things or why you hold certain beliefs. But you know now, in this moment, that it's not how you want to be. You are capable of learning a new truth. You can change how you behave. Every one of us can be a leader. So look in the mirror and have faith. Take action. You are only just getting started. When climbing the career ladder, the goal is often to become the boss. But how many of us aspire to be a leader? Although being a leader or a boss sounds the same, the characteristics of each are considerably different. When we talk about sports teams or governments, we talk about leaders and leadership qualities to guide us through adversity. Can the same be said for a boss? Here, we take a look at what separates a leader from a boss and the leadership qualities involved. Understanding the SeparationTo understand the separation, it’s important to understand the leadership qualities of a leader and how they differ from a boss. Bosses can be leaders, but it often takes years of experience to get to that point. Furthermore, it sometimes takes working under a poor boss to understand the leadership styles and qualities needed to become a great influencer or manager. 79% of employees will quit their jobs due to a lack of appreciation from leaders. That’s a sombre statistic, and one some bosses should remember when trying to manage their team. So, with that in mind, here are some of the qualities that make up a great manager – and separate a leader from a boss. InspirationWhereas a boss would focus on managing employees, a leader will inspire them to achieve. This breeds innovation, creativity, and pride in their work. A boss will instruct and move employees around, instead of empowering the team. Power and control are the hallmarks of a boss, whereas a leader can persuade and influence through inspiration and motivation. Support and EncouragementA leader will be more inclined to motivate staff through encouragement and support, offering constructive feedback. With positive reinforcement and well-thought-out feedback, an employee will be more motivated to give 100% effort in their work. On the other hand, a boss would criticise and berate instead of working on a solution with the team to improve for future instances. This promotes negativity and a lack of motivation in the team. Receptive StanceA positive leadership quality is the reaction to new ideas. A leader will take on board comments from the team, opening a discussion on how to move forward. By doing this, a leader will gain the respect of their team and solve problems promptly. A boss may have a negative stance. They will assume they know all the answers and perceive themselves to be an expert. AccountabilityA good sign of leadership is accountability. Being able to take accountability for their actions is a sign that the leader is responsible and won’t pin the blame on anyone else. However, a boss might seek to blame their team. They also might shirk the responsibility of facing up to the consequences of an event or their actions. A team needs to know that their leader will step up when needed and accept accountability, good or bad. If employees know their leader will take accountability, they will have faith in them and be more inclined to follow them. CommunicationSimilarly to having a receptive stance, a leader will have strong communication skills. This means having a two-way dialogue with their team and listening to their needs. Strong leadership qualities involve setting clear expectations and listening to the responses from their team and adjusting as necessary. Good communication is the key to clarity and efficiency, and a good leader will understand this. A boss will feel that communication is a one-way street. Their team will suffer as a result, not being able to voice their concerns or talk about solutions to challenges. Team FocusA team needs to know that their leader is focused on them, and not looking inwards. A good leader will be focused on the ‘we’ instead of the ‘I’. For a team to work well, all members must be pulling in the same direction and focusing on the same goals. A leader will instigate this by focusing on the team, instead of their own goals. A boss will be more likely to look at themselves, their own goals, and what drives them on instead of the team. ParticipationA leader that is involved in the daily tasks of a team inspires success. A big motivation factor is seeing a leader roll up their sleeves and helping a team get the job done when needed. It can be common for bosses to delegate and instruct, before disappearing until the work is done. Leaving the employees to work on their own could be empowering, but if there are significant challenges the leader should participate in the solution. There is a fine line between empowerment to get the job done and abandoning the team. A good leader will know the difference and know when to get stuck in. Leader vs a BossWith 77% of organisations reporting that leadership is lacking, it’s clear to see that working on your leadership qualities has never been more important. There are courses available for developing leadership skills, but for a boss to improve their leadership style, they should observe and understand their team. A leader’s greatest source of information and resource is their team, not their own knowledge. While individual knowledge is important, it is only part of the route to success. After all, a leader is only as good as their team – and the team will only improve under the guidance of a strong leader. A good leader will draw upon their team, empower them to succeed, and motivate them to strive for perfection. They will do all this while striving for effective communication. By enhancing their leadership qualities and styles, a boss can become a leader and grow their business with the help of their team. A strong, tight-knit team is part of the foundations of a successful business. By looking at the above leadership qualities, we can see that there is a clear separation between a boss and a leader. It takes time to evolve into an effective leader, but a boss should always strive to become a leader. |