Are you boss or leader? It is undoubtedly a question that many people ask themselves throughout their lives, and even more so when they have leadership positions in a company. Generally a leader It is considered a more effective and desirable approach than that of leadership.
Why do many people prefer to be leaders instead of considering themselves bosses? The answer is simple: leadership focuses on inspiring and guiding people toward a common goalwhile a boss is related to control and authority.
Leadership motivates people to be their best and to work together collaboratively, whereas a boss breeds fear and a “follow orders” mentality.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that both are necessary in certain situations. Therefore, it is essential that a leader have some degree of authority and power to make decisions as well as achieve goals. In this article you will discover if you are a boss or a leader.
Infographic provided by Wrike – Project Management Software
Are you boss or leader? Know the definition of “boss”
A boss is an individual who has authority and responsibility over a group of workers or an organization. That term is often used in the context of business and managementwhere he is responsible for supervising and directing a team of employees.
Also, has the authority to make important decisions, assign tasks, set goals, and evaluate employee performance. You also have additional responsibilities such as budgeting, planning, and strategic decision making.
However, it is important to mention that currently the term “boss” has been replaced by the word “leader”, since a more collaborative and less hierarchical approach is sought.
With the following analysis you will discover if you are a boss or a leader.
A boss…
- You adopt an all-knowing attitude that you don’t want to lose.
- He is incredulous in front of the changes concerning his disciplinehis stubbornness leads him to maintain the same policies even if they are outdated.
- Use intimidation to carry out what is proposed, because according to him it is the best way to treat employees. He may use phrases like “If you don’t do this, you’re going to lose your job”, “Do you want to lose your job?”, “If you don’t work the two extra hours, don’t come back tomorrow”.
- He feeds his ego of superiority by mistreating his collaborators, He usually talks about how he managed to get his business off the ground and that’s why it’s unique and special. He thinks that the others are inferior beings.
- Does not relate to or create fraternity ties with its workers, he only sees them as a work tool to obtain income. You don’t care about your team’s personal problems, you don’t want to know about them either. When he enters the company door, he doesn’t greet anyone, he shows a serious face and if someone looks at him, he frowns.
- All its provisions are unquestionable, even if they are wrong. He does not allow anyone to advise him or tell him what to do because he knows everything, therefore, each of his actions are “perfect”.
- He controls and supervises his collaborators in an exaggerated waythat is, it is too intense to the point of causing stress, pressure and above all, it asks for speed in the delivery of a job, even if it has not been previously reviewed.
- Penalize any mistake in a cruel way, does not listen to any excuse or take into account the opinion of the person who made said mistake. In addition, it does not recognize the achievements of its collaborators, nor does it give them a benefit for having done an excellent job.
So are you boss or leader? Do you feel identified with the previous list?
What is a leader? 
A leader is a person who has the ability to inspire and guide a group of people towards a common goal. The leadership It refers to the ability to influence the actions along with the decisions of others, it does not necessarily imply having formal authority.
Also, it can be someone who has an official title or position, for example, a manager or a president, but it is also usually someone who he has earned the respect and trust of others through his charisma, knowledge and skills.
Effective leaders are able to motivate and guide people, create a shared vision, and set clear goals. In addition, they are able to make strategic decisions, solve problems, overcome obstacles.
Use the following description to find out if you are a boss or a leader.
Are you boss or leader? Discover the characteristics of a leader…
- Allows brainstorming in a meeting, listens to suggestions, recommendations and respects the position of his collaborators. In short, agree to an exchange of ideas to improve the well-being of the organization.
- Does not use its power as an instrument of threatOn the contrary, it takes advantage of its hierarchy in order to positively impact the lives of its workers and family members.
- Trust your collaboratorsallowing them to enhance all their intellectual and personal abilities, delegating part of their “power” to streamline, manage and plan work much more easily.
- Create interaction environments, where each one knows the expectations of the other, there is a cultural clash if that is the case, and above all, discords and bad attitudes of certain individuals are healed. He also shares experiences that are capable of improving the emotional life of the team.
- Has the ability to transmit trust and empathy in his collaborators without falling into disrespect or abuse of authority. When he enters the company, he greets everyone with a smile and is concerned about the well-being of each of his workers, fostering an environment of good interpersonal relationships.
- Has the ability to adapt to changes, accept updates on any business element, learn from it and pass it on to your collaborators. For example, if a new policy comes out in the environment section, he immediately carries it out because he knows that it is essential to be in tune with the world.
- Listen carefully to criticism and use it to improve.
Now, are you boss or leader? The answer will guide you to improve your processes and the way you work.