The terms “leader” and “boss” are often used interchangeably, but they represent two different styles of management in an organization! Well, both leader and boss have similarities when it comes to an organization’s goal.
The differences between a leader and a boss are mainly in approach, style, task management, communication, and so on. A leader focuses on more team collaboration whereas a boss focuses on task management with deadlines!
Want to know more interesting facts about such differences? Let’s join this comparison guide and learn who’s the better, a leader or a boss!
Leader Vs Boss: Quick Comparison Chart
| Key Differences | Leader | Boss |
| Approach | Master the art of inspiration | Master the art of manipulation |
| Relationship | Build Confidence | Creates fear |
| Focus | Focus on long-term vision and development | Focus on short-term projects and tasks |
| Style | Work alongside employees | Authoritative and directive |
| Employee development | Coaches the employees | Drive the employees |
| Credit for success | Gives Credit | Takes credit |
| Goal orientation | Collaboration and teamwork | Bark orders |
| Communication | Open, transparent, two way | One way, top-down |
| Emotional attachment | Have emotional attachment | Lacks emotional attachment |
| Risk-taking | Take risks and correct mistakes | Fixes blame on others |
Detailed key differences between Leader and Boss
The ongoing debate is only successful when you get a broad discussion on each dissimilarity.
Let’s know the detailed key differences between a leader and a boss.
1. Approach
Influencing an employee with empathy, motivation, and rewards is the best to drive the employee. And, the leader knows this strategy very well.
Boss follows exactly the opposite! He controls others with abuse, guilt, and fear. Mainly, a boss uses his power to manipulate an employee and withhold personal information.
2. Relationship
Leaders focus on vision and support the team members even on challenges.
While, a good leader shows how it’s needed to complete. He helps to boost their confidence with inspiration and motivation.
On the other hand, the boss only wants the output result. He assigns the task and maintains a formal relationship for attaining a goal.
Therefore, employees have a communication gap with their boss which results in fear day by day.
3. Focus
Leaders simply focus on long-term goals and sustainable mission and vision for an organization. He works strategically to develop new leaders in the future for a successful business.
In contrast, a boss limits his planning and goal to a short-term project, immediate tasks, and day-to-day operations.
4. Style
The ultimate difference between a leader and a boss is empathy towards employees.
Leader always shows empathy to the employees even if they did something wrong. Leader tries to be humble and correct the mistakes like a friend.
On the other hand, bad bosses abuse and fix blame over employees even in front of others. He doesn’t want to know what’s behind the mistakes. Or he’s not interested in solving the mistakes.
5. Employee development
Leaders want to focus more on employee growth and development. A good leader makes an effort to know the weaknesses of an employee.
Then, he trains him, motivates him, and helps to develop the exact skills the employees need.
Whereas, the boss prioritizes the task and rules that the employee needs to follow. Whether an employee isn’t interested or an expert in a selected task, the boss doesn’t notice.
6. Credit for success
A great collaboration of teamwork is the reason for a successful goal. But here’s the difference between a leader and a boss.
Leader always shows gratitude to his employees and appreciates their efforts. Often, leaders give rewards for employees’ hard work.
On the other hand, a boss is so self-centered that he takes the credit.
His action meant he was the only one who contributed to the whole success. Employees are just workers who have no big contribution to tell!
7.Goal orientation
Leaders believe in teamwork, collaboration, and better communication.
That’s why, he never owns the credit or rewards. From the start to the completion of a project, a true leader denotes the word “We.”
On the other hand, a boss repeated “I” in every single piece of information. Try to highlight his efforts every time to succeed in a project or a goal.
8.Communication
A leader always open to his team members and maintain a friendly behavior and a strong communication
A true leader prioritizes his team members’ thoughts and ideas.
Give space to share opinions, strategies, innovative ideas, and other suggestions to bring an outstanding result.
Whereas, a boss doesn’t want to listen to any creative ideas or suggestions. He just ordered a task. Even employees are afraid to say a single word in front of a boss. So, it’s just a one way communication!
9.Emotional attachment
Leaders show more empathy and emotional support to the employee. In contrast, boss attachment is more task and performance-related.
Leaders focus on more personal growth and long-term support to employees. Even a good leader makes an effort to correct employees and encourage them to grow.
Whereas a boss only has an attachment to an employee for tasks and output. Sometimes it depends on the working environment as well.
10.Risk Taking
Leaders always take the risk and challenges to introduce future growth. The reason is very simple: a leader’s belief in long-term vision.
On the other hand, bosses only focus on emerging tasks to achieve success. They don’t take challenges to use a path of failure to grow. The boss just wants to get the driven result to become successful.
Leader VS Boss Examples
Examples 1: Leader vs Boss in Marketing Firm
Leader: A leader of a marketing firm takes his team to a canteen after a great workload. He will tell some jokes to refresh their mind with a cup of tea.
And give them a space to brainstorm new ideas to meet the goal. He’ll encourage employees to contribute to their quality.
Boss: A boss will fix a meeting and tell his assistant to inform employees. In a meeting, a boss will bark orders to employees and give them a strict deadline to deliver results.
Each single task is decided by the boss and the employee will only follow his command. That’s it.
Example 2: Leader Vs Boss in Restaurant Business
Leader: During a busy shift, the leader will ensure customer service and help in serving drinks or fast food without hesitation.
End of the day, he’ll gather the team members and junior staff. Ask them about the whole day experience, difficulties, shortage, and customer satisfaction as well.
From those discussions, he’ll get ideas on how to improve from the next day.
Boss: When a boss sees that the team can’t handle the busy shift, he’ll gather the team and give the blame to a single person one by one.
He wouldn’t listen to their difficulties. A boss only wants the fast service even if it’s quite impossible.
How to be a leader, not a boss?
Want to switch from a rude boss to a friendly leader? Follow these basic fundamentals and grow as a true leader!
Encourage Employees instead of criticizing
Always show empathy to your employees and encourage them to succeed. Feel free to correct them rather than focusing on their mistakes.
Say “We” instead of “ I”
Give priority to teamwork and collaboration. Never say, I have done this or that! Just celebrate every little success by announcing “We make it”!
Listen to your employee, instead of speak
A good leader always listens to his employees carefully. What they think, how they can be more comfortable in their position, what difficulties they are facing!
So, take a break from barking orders or commands continuously! Create a friendly environment and get the job done with perfection.
Coaches the employee instead of evicting them
Offer consultation and training to develop existing employees to become more capable. It’ll help to develop their growth and a sustainable relationship.
Don’t be too smart to evict the employee for a single mistake. Deal with them more strategically. With the time you invest in hiring a capable employee, you can get the ultimate result by training the existing one.
FAQS:
Who is a good boss or leader?
A good boss who creates a work-friendly environment and listens to his employees. And, a good leader always prioritizes team collaboration.
What are the 5 qualities of a good leader?
Here are the 5 qualities of a good leader –
- Motivate Others
- Listen to employees
- Good communication
- Thinks strategically
- Give credits to other
Why it is said a leader is not a boss?
Leaders don’t lead by command like a boss. Leaders encourage, motivate, and inspire others to make a long-term goal. Whereas, a boss manages tasks and dominates employees with power.
Final Words
The debate will continue! At the end of the day, both the leader’s and boss’ goals are the same! The betterment of the organizations.
The better you lead the employee, the better you can attain the goal.
Well, a leader is a more dedicated person than every successful employee. A boss, Of course, is a responsible person to manage and review tasks to ensure company reputation and customer satisfaction.
Be a good person to everyone! You’ll get what you pay for! Indeed!