What is the difference between a boss and a leader?

You may think of your boss or the supervisor in the tasteful office down the hall when you try to think of a leader at work. Bosses, on the other hand, are not the only ones who lead in the workplace, and not every boss has mastered the art of excellent leadership. Perhaps the best leader you know is the coworker who sits next to you at your desk and is always happy to lend you her stapler and help you solve problems.

While being promoted to a management position may seem to be a significant achievement, many professionals find the responsibility to be more difficult than they expected. Being someone’s boss does not automatically make you a successful leader.

A boss’s main goal is to mark things off the organizational to-do list as quickly as possible, while a true leader performs assignments while still working to inspire and encourage the people with whom he or she communicates on a daily basis. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, a leader strives to change things. People respect a boss’s authority, however they respect and admire a true leader.

So let’s see what are the differences.

Leaders use the word “we”.

When thinking and speaking, practice putting the team first. Instead of accusatory “you” words in meetings, speak about trying to reach deadlines as a team. This shows that you, too, are a member of the team, and that you are able to work hard and help your colleagues. The workplace dynamic changes from “trying to make the boss happy” to a spirit of cooperation, goal-setting, and success when employees adopt a “we” mindset. A “we” mindset fosters the transparency and community that are so important in today’s workplace.

2. Leaders are caring people.

It’s all too easy to mistake professionalism for impersonal, robot-like action. Many managers spend their days cooped up in their offices, rarely interacting with their employees. Even if your schedule is jam-packed, you can find time to connect with those around you. Remember that if you ask someone to tell you how they’re feeling, you should be ready to be vulnerable and responsive in your response. People will feel more comfortable approaching your office with whatever is on their minds if they believe you are being transparent, frank, and compassionate with them. This will lead to a more efficient and stress-free work atmosphere.

3. Leaders make investments in their employees.

Unfortunately, many workplace cultures encourage people to take advantage of others in order to get what they want or to advance up the corporate ladder. This is yet another example of the toxic “me first” culture that pervades both the workplace and personal relationships. Instead of relying on others or concentrating solely on your own needs, consider how you can assist others in their growth. Keep attuned to the needs of others and remember the areas in which you can help them thrive using your building blocks of compassion and team-mentality. A great leader desires for his or her people to succeed.

4. Mentoring is something that leaders do.

Employees are people, and they can make mistakes. How you handle mishaps reveals who you are as a manager. Although many managers choose to use a reward/punishment scheme to deter bad conduct, great leaders recognize that workers profit from support and mentoring. If an employee excels in a particular field, the talent should be recognized and developed. It’s important to take care of each employee’s strengths and weaknesses and mentor them individually. Rather than targeting ability holes, focus on filling them by leading workers through their flaws and increasing their confidence in new fields.

5. Leaders delegate power to others.

A supervisor is laser-focused on their department’s targets and adheres to strict protocol in order to accomplish them. They prefer to micromanage and think in the short term. They assign duties to their subordinates and think in the short term. Leaders aim to encourage others by setting an example for others to emulate and by promoting growth. They are at ease delegating authority and refraining from micromanaging, preferring to watch others develop. They can impact others for the organization’s greater advantage by using their outstanding communication and negotiating skills.

6. People look up to and admire leaders.

It will take time and effort to earn the respect of everyone on your team, but the benefits will be well worth the effort. A bad leader can try to dominate the office by instilling fear and bullying-like conduct. Employees who are terrified of their results or who are exhausted and frustrated by unreasonable deadlines are likely working for a manager who employs a fear-based approach rather than a respect-based approach.

Check out my related post: Should you practice servant leadership?

Interesting reads:

https://www.villanovau.com/resources/leadership/differences-between-boss-and-leader/

https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1404-characteristics-good-boss.html

https://www.allbusiness.com/10-key-differences-boss-leader-112482-1.html

https://www.lifehack.org/287785/10-differences-between-boss-and-real-leader

https://brightside.me/wonder-curiosities/the-11-crucial-differences-between-a-boss-and-a-leader-131155/

https://www.tonyrobbins.com/stories/leadership-academy/boss-vs-leader-whats-the-difference/

https://www.rickgoodman.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-boss-and-a-leader/

https://explore.volarisgroup.com/volaris-group-blog/the-difference-between-a-boss-and-a-leader-2