In the corporate world, there has been increasing debate about the difference between a leader and a boss. This is because, although the concepts are not the same, they often end up being confused — as if they were synonyms.
Therefore, understanding the meaning of each term is important for companies that want to establish efficient and quality people management. From the employee’s perspective, having a leader — and not a boss — can make a difference in the performance of the role.
Are you interested in this topic? Then keep reading. In this post, you will discover the difference between a leader and a boss and understand the impact of these figures on the business!
What are the main characteristics of a boss?
A boss is the person chosen by the company’s top management to command and supervise the teams on the front line.
At the beginning of industrialization, the figure of the boss was essential to maintain productivity and discipline among workers. Without openness to dialogue, the relationship was based on fear and subordination.
The boss assumes that the employee knows exactly what to do, so orders are expected to be followed to the letter and not questioned. Feelings such as pride, vanity and self-affirmation often guide a boss’s relationships.
Given 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.
Leader VS 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.
The employee is compensated by the employer to produce outcomes. As a result, he or she frequently does not look for the reason why the goals are not being met. The manager frequently chooses to replace the worker in these situations.
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 it is up to the leader to recognize the individual and collective contribution.
What are the benefits provided by the leader?
So far, you have understood the characteristics of a leader and a boss, the differences between them, and how to become a good leader. Now, it is important to 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.
Productivity tends to rise after workers carry out their responsibilities fearlessly and freely express their opinions.
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.
