Leader vs Boss: Which One Are You?

Anyone can be a boss. For most of us, the choice to be a Leader takes us on a journey of self-discovery and growth. The choice can make a difference between effective, influential leadership that will impact high performance or the choice to remain in the business as usual approach of management.

What is the difference between a leader vs a boss? A leader is one who inspires others and creates those who follow by their own free will. People follow a leader not because of their authority or rank, but because they believe in them, have admiration, and are inspired by what they are doing.

A leader is someone who takes an action that might be scary and vulnerable, yet creates a place where other people choose to follow.

Leaders Evolve First 

One primary difference between leaders vs bosses is that leaders take personal responsibility for their evolution and that of the organization. When considering the gap between where an organization or a department is and where it might be, a boss thinks, “How do I fix my people? How do I get them to change?” A leader thinks, “How can I change? How can I grow and evolve? How can I inspire?"

The sign of a true leader is that they focus on their own growth first. In doing so, they become a role model for learning and evolution. Creating a high-performance organization requires that leaders evolve first.

Qualities of Effective Leaders

Ultimately there’s only one quality or only one observable phenomenon that defines if someone is a leader vs a boss: whether there are people willingly choosing to follow you. With that said, here are some characteristics that good leaders tend to exhibit. 

1. Leaders Care About the People Around Them

2. Leaders Listen

3. Leaders Are Emotionally Clear

4. Leaders Have Compassion for Others

5. Leaders Speak the Truth

6. Leaders Celebrate Others’ Success and Build Leaders

At SHIFT314, we are committed to our continual growth in service of our mission to evolve the world of work. We hope that you also chose this path and that together we can create a better world. Are you ready to be an Evolutionary Leader?

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