What is the difference between being a boss and being a leader?
It’s not your title, rank, position on the org chart, or the location of your office. Any of these might describe a boss or leader. It’s also not just a matter of semantics, a play on words.
In both cases, they are surrounded by people.
A boss is surrounded by employees. A leader has followers. Employees can be hired. Followers must be earned.
This might seem like a simple shift in thinking, but it has the potential to inflate or deflate your influence — and, therefore, your effectiveness.
So … two questions:
- How do you want people to see you? As a boss or a leader?
- How do you see the people who work with you? As employees or followers?