Nowadays, there is ever-increasing talk in the corporate world about where the difference exists between a boss and a leader. This happens because, while the concepts have nothing in common, they all too often overlap — as though they were actually synonymous.
Therefore, it is important for the companies that are interested in efficient and quality people management to understand the meaning of each term. From the point of view of the employee, having a leader — and not a boss — can make all the difference for the performance of the role.
Do you have an interest in this topic? Then continue reading. In this post, you will learn what the difference is between a leader and a boss and the effects of such figures on business!
What are the main characteristics of a boss?
A boss is the person selected by the top management of the company who has to command and supervise the teams on the front lines.
At the early stages of the industrialization, the figure of a boss held significant importance to sustain productivity and discipline at work since, without openness to dialogue, the relationship was based on fear and subordination.
He expects the employee to know what to do and puts forth his orders because he believes that orders are not meant to be argued with. A boss, therefore, guides his relationships more by pride, vanity, and self-affirmation.
In view of this, it is possible to state that the main characteristics of the boss are: micromanagement, lack of dialogue and feedback, personal value to the detriment of the collective, authoritarianism and encouragement of toxic competitiveness.
However, nowadays, this image of the boss no longer makes sense. With technological advances and the frequent presence of automation, behavioral skills have become much more valued at work.
Since machines and software help automate tasks, there is more room for the exchange of ideas, innovations and improvements. In this scenario, the boss’s authoritarian stance often makes progress impossible.
What are the main characteristics of a leader?
Now that you understand what the main attributes of a boss are, it becomes easier to understand the characteristics of a leader.
Just like the boss, the leader is the person chosen to command the company’s teams. However, the professional who exercises leadership uses his or her power to walk alongside the employees — and not above them.
This means that the leader involves the teams in decision-making, rather than just giving orders. The professional understands that each of his subordinates has different personalities and skills, and that listening to them can benefit the company.
In this way, the leader seeks to get the best out of employees. If disagreements arise, he opens dialogue and mediates the situation until a solution is found.
In addition, the leader promotes and recognizes the outstanding members of his team. He uses his hierarchical position as a way to engage and motivate employees. This contributes to everyone’s growth and to a healthy culture in the company.
What are the differences between a leader and a boss?
As you have learned, there are significant differences between a leader and a boss. While a boss uses his power to enhance his own value, a leader gets involved with his teams and seeks to value each of the employees under his supervision.
For the boss, the employee is paid to deliver results. Therefore, if the goals are not being achieved, he often does not seek to find out why. In these cases, it is very common for the boss to decide to replace the employee.
In this type of mindset, only results are important. The leader understands that these results are directly linked to the motivation, engagement and participation of employees in the processes . Therefore, he tries to understand the causes of low performance and seeks solutions.
This is why the boss usually inspires fear while the leader assumes a role of inspiration and example for the teams. Thus, it can be said that the boss exercises autocratic authority and the leader exercises democratic authority.
Companies that have bosses may run a greater risk of having unmotivated, fearful teams with internal conflicts. Companies that invest in leaders tend to have motivated, engaged and harmonious teams in their relationships.
How to become a good leader?
After learning more about the topic, you may have realized that the leader tends to be more advantageous for the business. If you want to inspire your team, there are certain behaviors you can develop to become a good leader .
To achieve this, it is essential that there is democratic communication between the leader and his/her subordinates. Dialogues must be established based on empathy and listening skills, without teams feeling afraid to express their opinions.
When faced with difficulties, the leader needs to know how to guide employees so that everyone moves in harmony towards the goals set. After overcoming obstacles, everyone is congratulated, and the leader is responsible for recognizing individual and collective contributions.
Therefore, to become a good leader, it is essential that the professional seeks to develop his or her soft skills. The English expression expresses, precisely, the idea that behavioral skills are the basis for creating healthy relationships and a healthy environment.
What are the benefits provided by the leader?
So far, you have understood characteristics of a leader and a boss, how they are different, and how to become a good leader. You should now know why a leader is the best choice for a company. In other words, what are the benefits provided by a leader in the organizational environment.
Once employees perform their duties without fear and without hesitation in sharing their thoughts, productivity tends to increase. Engagement also tends to improve, resulting in more committed teams.
The leader also enables the development of a healthy corporate culture free from toxic competitiveness. With happy and satisfied employees in their work environment, relationships become more relaxed and the harmonious environment encourages everyone to give their best.
This reduces turnover rates and helps retain talent. Therefore, the company tends to achieve increasingly better results.