Are You a Boss or A Leader?

Have you ever heard of a business that doesn’t
have a boss? Probably not. The title of boss goes
to most anyone in a position of authority. Now,
have you ever heard of a business that doesn’t
have a leader?

Probably. You’ve most likely experienced the
situation yourself.

A leader is someone in a position of authority
that others look to for guidance and direction.
That isn’t quite the same as being the boss. A
boss may be someone who gives orders and tells
others what to do, but employees may tend to go to
someone else for clear direction or to discuss
business matters. That person is a leader. He or
she is the person in whom the workers have faith
to get them through a difficult situation or who
they look to for instruction.

Faith and trust are two determining factors of who
will become a leader and who simply becomes a
boss. Anyone can get a promotion or a new title;
not everyone earns the faith and trust of
employees.

It’s important to instill this feeling in those
you work with, too. We all need someone to be
responsible for a situation. Without that someone
governing the whole, no organization or group can
accomplish what it sets out to do.

Leaders need to be dependable and consistent in
their actions. They need to respect others for
their abilities and skills and confident enough to
take charge of a situation to delegate
effectively. This confidence translates to
employees, and when they receive their direction,
they feel confident about the decision, as well as
more able to carry it out. Employees expect
leaders to provide support and to be committed as
well.

The short answer as to what makes a leader is the
level of trust and respect that workers have for a
person.

Without good, confident direction that inspires
trust, leadership is lacking. That can create a
situation of discontent and mutiny, which may find
employees looking for someone to better guide them
in their efforts and endeavors. Workers may feel
no positive outcome is possible from their work or
that the decision is illogical. In that case, they
might feel obliged to make their own decisions
that may or may not be the right choices.

Worse, apathy sets in, hope extinguishes, and the
goals of the business are not met. A deficiency in
leadership might lead to a business declining and
eventually closing its doors.

Strong leadership has proven itself repeatedly in
successful businesses that go on to become leading
corporations. It can seal business survival and
create a working atmosphere geared towards
positive results. Employees are happier and well
guided, and management easier to perform. The
whole result is a harmonious environment oriented
towards growth and entrepreneurial success.

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