Many people don’t know the difference between boss and leader. But, when it comes to running a business successfully, especially if you’re managing a team, knowing the difference is crucial.
In this article, I will explain the difference between a boss and a leader. You may decide that being a boss is not nearly as effective as being a leader in business. The concept of bosses vs leaders is one that can actually be controversial.
A Boss is Someone Who Tells You What to Do
This is the person who controls their employees. Employees have to do what their boss says, whether they agree with it or not. So there is hardly ever any room for the opinions of others. Whatever the boss says is final. This goes against the spirit of teamwork and collaboration, which are so critical to business success today.
When a boss gives orders, all recipients must already know exactly how to fulfill those orders without needing extra guidance from the boss. At least that’s what the boss believes. A leader knows better.
To be a successful boss you need to be able to manage processes and people. While this does require skill and experience, it is much easier to be a boss than it is to be a leader.
A Leader is Someone Who Shows You the Way
As a boss, you constantly need to be thinking about your own job and how it can get done more efficiently so that you will have more time for other tasks. As a boss, you will not have any time to give your employees feedback or guidance because you are so busy with the work that only YOU can do.
A leader is focused on getting everyone in their company moving together in the same direction. To do so effectively, a leader will not just decide who is most suitable to do what needs to be done then dish out orders. A leader will roll up his/her sleeves and work ALONGSIDE their employees.
A leader will also be willing to not just tell but also show their team members how things should be done. There will also always be room for discussion about the way things are being done. A boss will not listen to their employees and they certainly won’t be open for discussion.
To be a successful leader you need to have passion, be resilient and have creative thinking skills, and always keep your focus on the big picture rather than getting caught up in minutiae.
A Boss Will Tell You When It’s Time to Work, But a Leader Will Show Up Early and Set an Example for Others to Follow
I’m sure you know some people that clock in for work at 7 AM, but their bosses show up hours later. Or maybe you have experienced this personally. Let’s hope you’re not said boss showing up for work at any time you please.
A leader will always set the example for the way things should be done. This even includes seemingly small things like the time work should be started. This makes for a healthier, happier work environment.
Bosses are People With Authority, but Leaders Have Influence
Oftentimes bosses are respected and followed because they have authority. Many times they aren’t even liked by their employees. But it doesn’t matter to them, as long as work gets done. When they are not around, employees might be more tempted to do things their way because no one is around to call them out on it.
A leader, on the other hand, may not have authority but has influence. This means that a leader’s team members will often do what is asked of them because they want to follow their leader.
But these team members don’t blindly follow their leader just for the sake of it or because they need a job. They follow their leader because they believe in what their leader stands for. And this is so because a leader works with his/her team, and this opens the way for team members to be influenced.
Leaders are Creative Problem-Solvers While Bosses Just Want Things Done Their Way
A boss will always have their way and they don’t like to hear any alternative ideas. Bosses usually want things done exactly how they envision them in their minds, and so this is the only way it should be done.
Leaders are different because not only do they listen to other people’s opinions but also give credit where credit is due. A leader wants to hear what their team members have to say, then act on it if the suggestion is good enough.
Leaders also know that there may be more than one solution for a problem and this is why they are open-minded about alternative ideas coming from others in order to find the best solution possible. Employees working under a boss will never be able to offer any suggestions because they know that their boss won’t want it.
A boss creates a divide between themselves and everyone else while leaders work together as one unit.
Leaders (and good managers) always try and bring people together, creating unity within the workplace. They do this by building trust with those around them so that they can all work together towards one goal.
Bosses Delegate Tasks While Leaders Assign Responsibility “and” Teach How to do it themselves
A boss will never delegate responsibility because they are always afraid that someone else might do it better or faster than them. They don’t want to look bad in front of their team, so this task is best left with the boss.
Leaders know, though, that if you can teach people how to be successful at something then there will always be less work for them to do. By delegating responsibility, a boss will only make the task bigger and larger while leaders pass on their knowledge so that each person can handle his or her own responsibilities.
A boss is someone who tells you what to do but doesn’t trust you enough to understand why it needs done; they expect immediate results. While a boss will not give you the freedom to implement your own ideas, leaders empower their employees and believe in them.
A boss creates more work for everyone else while a leader delegates tasks that his or her team can handle
A boss does this because they don’t want anyone else stealing their thunder (or getting praised). They feel like they need to do everything themselves so that no one else gets the credit.
A boss will even create work for you because they don’t want you to have any “free” time. They are always afraid of what would happen if everyone suddenly has nothing left to do, especially since their boss might be paying them for doing absolutely nothing!
Wrapping It All Up
We all know there are a lot of misconceptions about bosses and leaders. But what’s the truth? A boss is someone who tells you what to do, while a leader shows you the way. Bosses delegate tasks, but leaders assign responsibility “and” teach how to do it themselves. Leaders are creative problem-solvers while bosses just want things done their way. At Top Tier Coaching Services we can help you become an effective leader by teaching skills like delegation and delegating responsibly so that your team will be motivated to work hard on behalf of both yourself and your organization’s vision for success!
