Being a Boss Vs Being a Leader

Managers and leaders in the modern world struggle to understand why more and more, their workforce lacks motivation. Nearly a third of employees choose to leave their current roles, not because of the money, or lack of progression, but a third of the employees surveyed expressed their move was due to the lack of support or guidance given to them by their managers.

We have a small number of inspirational leaders in the modern world, ones which prove that a successful business is not made on the shoulders of creating a fearful reputation, and treating their subjects as if they were monkeys with type writers, working round the clock just so you can get a bonus. Most managers in major organizations are more focused on their own progression rather than providing their teams with the right support, and more then half of them in reality should not even be in the role which requires a passion for people development.

Many of the traits in the following list are extracted from many great leaders from across the globe. These are the ingredients which all leaders, commercial, academic and professional should all aspire to.

Compassionate Leader

Leaders have time and time again, focused on demonstrating that they can deliver when it comes to hitting targets and managing the expectations of the customer, but there are only a few that take the lead and manage their approach to the workforce.

Having a one fit solution and treating employees as if they are a number creates a atmosphere where employees feel as if they are a expendable commodity. This not only leads to a unmotivated team, but also one where there is no compassion between the team their work and respect for their leader. The key is to create a team which strives to achieve the best result, not only because they have too, but because they want to for their colleagues and manager.

Collaborative Approach –
“Its We, Not I” And “Let’s Go, Not Simply Go”

When is comes to getting the ball rolling and making the right decisions, its never best to refer to the team as you or me. Creating a sense of togetherness not only promotes a family culture but using the words “We” and “Us”, rather then “I” and “Me” shows the team that they are not different to you, and you choose to lead by example, providing them with support. It shows that the leader would not ask someone else to carry out the task he/she themselves are not able to master and fulfill.

The language a leader uses can also show a lot about their approach when it comes to team-building. Managers will always look to assert authority when mobilizing their teams, but great leaders also involve themselves in the team when speaking in context. Merely saying “Go” expresses the team is separate from the manager, where changing this to “Let’s Go” allows the team to think of the leader as one of them.

Does Not Use People, Develops Leaders

A business is only successful because of the people that work for it, same goes for the leader. A manager is only as good as his/her team. If the team feels as if they are just a resource and not treated as individuals, they will switch off and not be motivated to continue doing great work.

Its important to develop your team, create opportunities for your colleagues to grow and aspire to achieving leadership positions themselves. A good leader is someone who manages their team with trust and compassion, a great leader is one who develops others on how to lead and develop their own teams for the future.

Does Not Inspires Fear, Gains Their Respect

This is an approach which is very common in many large companies and nations. Treat their employees as if they are children, and exerting them to a big brother like environment where they are watched constantly inspire fear. Great leaders have demonstrated that its key to be able to create relationships which are built on respect and moral accountability.

Here employees and teams hold themselves accountable as they are passionate about their responsibilities. Furthermore, the respect for their manager legitimizes the manager’s right to be superior, which ultimately makes the leader’s role more then just an appointment, but one which is socially entrenched.

Recognizes And Rewards

Motivation is key in any leadership scenario. When it comes to great work and the fruits reaped, great leaders share this success with the well deserved team. This not only shows the team that they are valued, but again enhances the collaborative approach. This is also true for great work which is achieved by individual members, and is just as important to make them feel valued, and their contributions celebrated and recognized.

Its fair to note, that this ties in with the notions of discarding the blame, where great leaders acknowledge that the mistakes are not just individual, and that they should be tackled together rather then playing a blame game, where not only avoiding the rise of a hostile environment, but imitating leader who is unable to support the teams at times of crises.

Destruction Through Micromanagement,
or Developing Though Delegation

Micromanagement and the practice of knit picking individuals and making them accountable tends to demotivate colleagues as well as destroying a persons self belief. Great leaders in contrast, choose the method of bestowing delegation and not being afraid of facing the challenges which come with coaching and mentor-ship.

This not only develops teams to become better at what they do, but allows them to feel empowered to carry out tasks which they would previously feel fearful of. Furthermore this ties in with developing your team, creating future leaders and building relationships on trust and respect.

Thinks Long Term

One common traits which many modern managers share is the lack of vision, thinking short term in regards to their staff an the business. For these type of leaders, they will always see every aspect of the business and their team as expendable, viewing the world in days and months rather then the long run.

For a leader the story is very much different. Great leaders see the benefits of their decisions with the vision and anticipation of the future. For example the decision to employ an Associate is not merely because of their prior experience in the job role, but because there is a vision behind it, where the leader can spot potential in the individual and how they will become a future asset to their plans and for their organization.

Thinking long term, and not just focusing on what’s best for now is a key trait which works together with the ability to present a charismatic outlook, shared by many world leaders. This also helps keep the focus on developing methodologies for the future, and finding new strategies for motivating your team. Foremost, the leader is entrusted with the decisions which will help create the success for the future, accompanying this, it is somewhat important to play the part, which crafts an image and reputation based on respect and trust from your peers and subordinates.

Stop Being A Boss, You’re A Colleague

As a manager, referring to yourself as the boss can bring with it negatives which may not be clear cut, but speaking to your teams and reflecting yourself as the superior colleague can create a fear factor where you become unapproachable. Having the confidence to not only support your team but also acknowledge that they are just colleagues whom the leader should support, can help the subjects perform passionately for what your brand stands for, they willingly strive to produce great results.

Referring to your team as colleagues also shares their desire to be seen as equals, as members of the leaders inner circle, where their valuable contribution is appreciated and acted upon, rather then just heard, probed for their use and then and then discarded without any recognition.

Focused On People Not The Process

Businesses require profits in order to stay competitive in the capitalist world. It is a key element in an leader to be able to produce healthy financial returns, but it is also the leaders role to not lose track of the employees and subject which make this possible. Alongside the growth of the business is at the forefront of their agenda, all great leaders refuse to get bogged down in the detail of processes, which prevents them from being charismatic through their exceptional peoples skills.

For any good leader to be successful in creating, develop and progressing great mindsets, its empirical for them to focus on the people around them, forming harmony as the basis of their environment, and focusing on forming long lasting relationships, rather then the processes involved.

There is much that can be learned from the leaders from history, and it may be fair to say that great leaders still exist today, but this is something which managers and directors, teachers, coaches and world politicians should all look to aspire to, to share and attain the same attributes which would deem them deserving, of being called leadership.

Originally posted on The Kingsman Journal

http://thekingsmansjournal.com