There is a lot of content on the internet about what is better, being a leader or a boss?
You probably immediately answered “leader,” and that’s okay; Being a boss seems old-fashioned, demotivating, and unproductive. The point is that there are characteristics of the “bosses” that the “leaders” must implement often and it is vital that you are clear about it.
The first thing is to understand clearly that the “bosses” are not necessarily one step below the leaders. They just have different visions of how things should be done. And not for this, being a boss, should be seen as something bad.
Also, not all people are born good leaders, some understand how to be better leaders, but this does not guarantee success. I am not wanting to say that being a boss you will always find success, I am just saying that it is also a valid path. So why not be a bit of both?
This is important since not all situations should be handled from the same perspective and it is important that you know when you should be the leader or boss.
Then…
When to be a leader or boss.
In a recent Freakonomics Podcast (from the authors of the book Freakonomics and Think Like a Freak), they talk about research that has shown that large companies have understood the importance of distinguishing between the 2 profiles, leader or boss, and know how to use the profile indicated according to the situation.
The conclusion is simple and is based on the situation that needs leadership (Leader) and administration (Boss).
Situations/problems that require:
-Internal information.
-Clarification of tasks.
-Informs presentation
These are tasks that must be taken with an administrative approach (boss).
While the situations/problems that are related to:
-Employee morale.
-General objectives.
-External information of the company.
They are better managed if they are treated from the leadership (leader).
Robin Camarote, columnist and creators of Work Life Lab, complements this information by giving clear examples of when to be a leader or boss.
Is there any important news to tell? Hours and money spent are examples of results that need to be accounted for to effectively assess whether the business is getting a return on its investments. This is a management issue.
Is there a question of who should report to whom? Any people-related organizational questions about group structure, size, and scope are management issues.
Is it necessary to know when the product will be shipped? All product, project, and delivery issues require management, including trend analysis and forecasting.
What remains are leadership questions that need to be addressed. What is the overall impact of the work? What are our results in the context of industry trends? How to keep employees motivated? Do employees feel connected to something bigger than themselves and their work?
So do not dismiss the “bosses” simply because they are not leaders and think what you can complement them to be more complete. Also, consider having people with a leader profile and others with a boss profile, this will mean that depending on the situation, you can correctly delegate to the right person.
And remember, if you are really interested in creating your own business, you can read our book “How to create a company while working: Discover how to manage your time, manage your money and motivate yourself while creating a company and working for another” , where you will find all the information you need to found your own company, without having to leave your job.
