Transitioning From A Boss To A Leader

People often misunderstand the terms “boss” and “leader”, they think that both go hand in hand and to determine which one you are, ask yourself this question.

Do you: a) see your team as an aggravating necessity that you have to put up with in order to accomplish day-to-day activities and achieve goals? Or, do you: b) truly enjoy working with people on your team to meet your goals?

If you chose “a” you’re more a boss, and if you chose “b” you’re more a leader.

Companies large or small yield the most effective and long lasting results from someone who is a leader and not a boss, so how can you transform yourself from a boss to a leader? Here are several key ways to start:

1) Respect: There is not a person who can successfully lead a team well if they are condescending and making others feel inferior. People are not minions, they have a unique personalities, traits and talents. You must enjoy helping and watching them succeed.

2) Guide, not control: Bosses have the need to control every action and look over people’s shoulders, not trusting the team to accomplish the task. Leaders understand that their team is capable of achieving greatness though guidance and support rather than being controlled into doing it a certain way.

3) Adaptability: Bosses tend to be very content in the way things are being done, but leaders understand how they much be able to adapt their personal style to each of the team members because not everyone can be taught in the same manner.

4) Delegate: Bosses feel that no one can do the job as well as they can so they don’t fully trust any team member to successfully accomplish a task, whereas leaders put full trust and then let go and periodically follow up to ensure that the team is on track.

5) Give credit and not blame: Bosses are the first to take the credit of the team’s success and be the first one to point fingers and throw someone under the bus when goals are not met. Leaders, know that their success comes from their team’s effort, and giving appraisal for goals and guides when goals are not met.

Leaders are motivators, they do what they can to ignite a passion within their team members to work together as one cohesive unit and achieve the end result. Which is how companies grow efficiently and build a strong foundation that will last a life time.