Summary: We have all worked for people who are leaders, and those who are bosses. We learn what we should do by looking at the lives of leaders, and we learn what not to do by looking at the actions of bosses. Maybe you are wondering if you work for a leader or a boss, or you may need to know if you are a leader or a boss yourself.<br> Here are the four main differences between the two, and they are anything but subtle:<br> <br> Leaders inspire others to act by being out front, and bosses expect everyone else to do all the work.<br> As the picture shows above, leaders aren’t afraid to go first. They realize that it is difficult to go first sometimes, so they will lead in order to release the tension for others. Going first allows others to go next with less hesitation and more boldness. You can lead by testing the waters and telling others if it is okay for them to dive in.<br> Leaders also don’t expect others to do all the work. In fact, I would say that one of the most important attributes for a leader to possess is the willingness to work hard. Things will never just happen on their own, but with hard work over time, positive results can take place. But before the work takes place, leaders realize the importance of giving motivation to the entire team. Employees need to know the why behind the necessity of moving ahead. Giving employees the reason behind doing things is important, so a better work environment can be created. Employees must believe that their work makes a meaningful contribution in order to make the biggest possible impact through their work. When leaders paint this picture well, their company will thrive. When bosses don’t do this, all motivation will be lost.<br> Leaders have vision for the future and are proactive, but bosses only maintain what they already have and are reactive to situations.<br> When you or who you work for can see out ahead before problems happen, the entire team gets to enjoy the benefits. This is leading at its finest. Taking care of issues so others don’t have to deal with them shows employees that those around them care about their well-being.<br> This concept not only applies to dealing with problems, but having this visionary mentality will create tremendous growth. If systems can be set in place now that can make the future better, then by all means please begin this necessary conversation now within your company, whether you have a leadership title or not. (You don’t need a title to lead; you just need a voice.) Having visionaries in leadership is a necessity for your company to be relevant twenty years from now, and being proactive ensures that your entire team will head in the right direction over time.<br> Leaders are creative with the plan when they need to be, and bosses only know one plan. When a plan doesn’t work out, is your company paralyzed, or is a new plan quickly formed and executed? Leaders are great at this, but bosses are not.<br> Leaders care about relationships, whereas bosses care about their title.<br> Of course, businesses won’t be around for long without making money, but that is a byproduct of creating an environment where people want to be, employees and customers alike. A team whose leadership cares about them as individuals will produce more benefits than teams who don’t have a leadership team who builds relationships with them.<br> Bosses who solely focus on the bottom line, pushing all focus on relationships aside to command orders from their team just because they have a management title, will cause burnout in employees. In doing this, they won’t be left with anyone who wants to work for them. What these bosses don’t realize is that added revenue is always a byproduct of happy employees interacting with customers on a daily basis. People want to buy from companies who offer great service and a remarkable guest experience, and building relationships with your team is a great place to start leading right away....
