You’re in charge.  You are responsible for delivering the results.  Does it matter if you are called the Boss or the Leader? As long as your team performs and hits the bottom line should you be concerned with such trivial matters?

If you are new to this area of being in charge, you will quickly find that,

“How you achieve the results matters as much as if you achieve the results.”  – Denis G. McLaughlin

The methods used by one who is known as The Boss, are vastly different than one who is known as The Leader:

                                                            Methods used by Bosses and Leaders

                                                          Boss                                                 Leader

                                                         Assigns                                            Prioritizes

                                                         Depends on authority                      Depends on relationships

                                                         Gives the work                                Shares the work

                                                         Has every answer                            Finds every answer

                                                         Criticizes                                         Teaches

If I were to summarize the differences from the table above on the methods used by bosses and leaders, I would say that “The Boss increases the load while The Leader lightens the load.” – Denis G. McLaughlin 

The long term results achieved by one who is known as The Boss, are vastly different than one who is known as The Leader:

                                                            Results achieved by Bosses and Leaders

                                                         Boss                                                Leader

                                                         Earns fear                                        Earns respect

                                                         Receives the minimum                    Receives the best

                                                         Hears “I am done”                           Hears “What’s next?”

                                                         Builds a team of individuals           Builds an individual team

                                                         Must micromanage                         Can delegate

If I were to summarize the results from the table above on the methods used by bosses and leaders, I would say that The Boss must continue to push the team to achieve acceptable results while The Leader is part of the team that continues to achieve extraordinary results.

Does it matter if you are called the Boss or the Leader? Absolutely.  Be a Leader.