Many companies have someone at the helm who seems like a leader but are really just a boss that actually has little to no leadership qualities at all. They don’t inspire their team, they’re intimidating, and they demand respect instead of earning it. While it can be difficult to make a total change and embrace leadership over being a commanding boss, it’s a necessary step to keep your team happy and loyal.

Leaders want to inspire others and create more leaders who are capable of making good decisions, are confident, and aren’t afraid to step up to the plate. A boss usually unnerves their team and makes them too anxious to carry out important tasks and decisions because they constantly seek their approval. This leads to staff being unhappy and even pushes them to resign. 

In fact, 49% of people have left their job because of a bad boss. Because of the anxiety-inducing culture that their bosses have created, they don’t feel appreciated or comfortable enough to take on challenges out of fear of being reprimanded rather than being built up. 

To be a good leader, you need to be attentive to your employees without making them nervous or scared. You need to empower them to determine the best course of action while steering them in the right direction. You want to praise them for their successes and teach them how to do better if they make mistakes. By being a figure they can count on for guidance while giving your staff the space they need to operate, you’re paving the way for their own leadership.

Why being a good leader is important

Being a good leader requires, first and foremost, empathy. Being emotionally intelligent ensures that you can create meaningful relationships with your staff and help them be happy, loyal members that will stay in the company and contribute to its success. 

When you’re a good leader, you’ll have lower turnover, happier employees, and more productive work days. Your staff will be more encouraged to come up with new ideas that may help the business flourish because they feel they have the creative freedom and agency to join in on the conversation.

It also boosts employee morale, creating a collaborative, positive work environment. Employees who feel their needs are being met by their employer are more satisfied and bring their best, especially when praised. When they are celebrated for their success, they’ll want to repeat those actions and achieve success again which is simultaneously good for them and your business. 

Without anxiety holding them back from fear of being brought down by a boss, performance is optimised. 

5 differences between bosses and leaders

In order to distinguish between being just another boss and an encouraging, inspiring leader, we’ve compared the defining characteristic of both: 

1. Command and control vs. persuade and influence

Bosses have a tendency to adhere to the hierarchy they’ve created in their head. Because they feel they’re at the top of the structure, they act accordingly and bark orders. They’re controlling and want things done only in a way they think is correct.

Leaders, on the other hand, don’t exactly acknowledge the hierarchy. Instead, they see themselves as part of the team and not detached from their staff. By being a role model, they influence the rest of the team to follow in their footsteps and ensure staff are listened to.

2. Tell and demand vs. ask and collaborate

When it comes to communication, bosses tend to talk at their staff instead of to them. They’re rarely open to conversation and come off demanding and like they aren’t open to suggestions or feedback. They’re serial micromanagers which slows down decision-making processes and causes bottlenecks, making the business less productive. More often than not, it’s their way or nothing.

Collaborating, active listening, and creating an inclusive and positive atmosphere are things leaders hope to achieve. Instead of one-sided conversations, they hope to engage in real dialogue and are accepting of any comments that can help them or the business improve. They understand that the staff can have different perspectives so they ask for those points of view and integrate them in how the business is run. 

3. Demand respect vs. gain respect

When it comes to respect, a boss often thinks they’re entitled to it because of their position. They have an inflated sense of self that they think merits it. Because of the power that their position attributes to them, they believe that being respected naturally progresses from their authority.

But when it comes to a leader, they earn it. By being confident, personable, and displaying positive qualities such as being on time, putting in quality work, and being professional. Through motivating their team and leading by example, their staff members look up to them. 

4. Motivate through reward and punishment vs. inspiration and purpose

An employee making a mistake is inevitable but the way their higher-ups respond to it is incredibly important. Bosses tend to criticise and put someone down, punishing them for their mistakes. They use it as leverage for an employee to do well rather than praising them outright for a job well done.

A leader, on the other hand, knows when to celebrate their employee and the good work they do. Leaders want to inspire their team by finding purpose in what they do and contributing to a greater vision. This means staff are more engaged in the long term business success and how their role plays a part in that success. Instead of being afraid of making mistakes out of fear that they’ll be berated and punished, they’re encouraged to learn instead. 

5. Closed vs. open and transparent communication

Openness, active communication, and listening are important aspects in a CEO/managing partner and employee relationship. Without them, misunderstandings are bound to happen. Bosses have a tendency to only listen to themselves and their own ideas and are closed to any suggestions. They don’t have the openness necessary to exchange ideas.

Leaders encourage conversation and are open to ideas. They push their staff to share what’s on their minds and develop those ideas to be at their optimal state. Having conversations increases the likelihood of sharpened ideas which can be achieved if a leader is transparent and works with a team.

Bosses and leaders are inherently different even though they occupy the same position at the head of the business. But what drives the difference between them is how they interact, encourage, and reward their teams. By displaying an openness, encouraging dialogue, and earning the respect of your employees, you can be an excellent leader.

To shape yourself into the best leader you can be, book a call with us.