A leader is admired - a boss is feared?

A leader is admired - a boss is feared?
This quote popped up on my screen the other day and it really struck me just how true this is.
I've been in 'management' roles ever since I finished my degree many years ago and while it's often not how I've got my foot in the door, I always seem to have worked my way up to the top.


The thing is, as I've got (much) older I've realised that what I was doing in those early days wasn't leadership - it was being a boss which, now I have a couple of companies on the go, I couldn't want to be any less of a boss!!


Being the boss was always something to aspire to but not for me, not any more, and I wonder if anyone else feels the same? Or if you can even see the difference between being a boss and a leader?


Here's a few ways you can spot the difference between a leader and a boss - which one or you, or more importantly, which do you hope to be?


Leaders communicate, bosses give orders.
Leaders listen to their employees and discuss ideas with them and they settle on a resolution together. A boss needs the job done and gives orders in line with the way they see things and don't discuss protocol.


Leaders motivate, bosses instil fear.
A leader motivates their staff to improve their skillset both professionally and personally. A boss scares their workers into doing what they say with little care for their wellbeing either in the workplace or at home.


Leaders learn from their employees, bosses believe they know everything.
Leaders respect their staff and appreciate that some are more experienced and knowledgeable. They welcome this difference in experience and are happy to learn from it and grow through others, regardless at what level of employment they are at. Bosses struggle to learn from others who are at a lower level than they are and are much more comfortable giving orders instead.


Leaders get involved, bosses stay on the sidelines.
Leaders are as much a part of the team as anyone, they get involved, they don't always have an office and segregate themselves from the rest of the team and they are always available to lend a helping hand. Bosses do just that; they boss the team around and are happy to create a 'them and us' divide.


Leaders discuss issues, bosses get angry.
As a leader and a boss you're always going to have staff members that need disciplining. A leader will discuss the issues with aa staff member and try to reach a resolution together, a boss will shout and 'tell off' their staff member and won't be willing to listen to reason.


Leaders treat everyone equally, bosses have favourites.
Leaders will never choose favourites or value one person over another in the team whereas a boss will play favourites, especially for someone with good stature.


Now this might sound like I'm being unfair to bosses and because I've been one and I know that, for me anyway, this differences are obvious and they're there!


The thing is, and I think this comes as a learning curve as you grow old, leaders get so much more out of their staff and are much more effective at getting results.

What do you think, are bosses a thing of the past?