Whether you are 16 years old working your first job in a fast-food restaurant or a 30-year veteran at a Fortune 500 company, you probably report to someone. If you’re lucky, that someone is a leader—not a boss.
There’s a huge difference.
Being a boss can be easy
What comes to mind when you think of a boss? I’ll start with autocratic. Arbitrary. Highhanded. A boss might be self-centered. He or she might very well lead by force with a “because I said so!” mentality. A boss usually offers little in the way of communication—especially the constructive, productive kind. He or she might act like they know everything. They tend to take credit for the good stuff and pass the blame for problems or failures along to others. The result, invariably, is low morale.
Being a leader takes more work
Now let’s think of a leader’s attributes. A successful leader persuades rather than orders. He or she coaches those who work for them. They are mentors. A good leader asks questions and really listens to the answers. They are fair and considerate—even if they set high bars and expect a lot. They communicate consistently. They collaborate and are not afraid to learn from others. They give credit where credit is due. All this boosts morale, and that’s good for business—no matter what that business is.
As I was writing this, I was reminded of Aesop’s fable about the Wind and the Sun.
One day the Wind and the Sun were arguing about which was stronger. Then they saw a traveler approaching, and the Sun said: “I see a way to decide our dispute. Whichever of us can cause that traveler to take off his coat shall be regarded as the stronger. You can begin.” So the Sun hid behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveler. But the harder the Wind blew, the more closely the traveler huddled into his coat. At last, the Wind had to give up in despair. Then the Sun came out from behind the cloud and shone brightly upon the traveler, who soon found it too hot to walk with his coat on. So he took it off.
The more you insist, the more I resist
It’s a simple, yet powerful, story to illustrate that people would rather be persuaded, convinced or won-over than forced into decisions or circumstances. When you think about it, this tactic works better in just about any situation. It certainly results in less resistance, confrontation and opposition. It generally is more successful in the end.
If you have people who report to you, strive to be a leader rather than just a boss. It takes more effort, to be sure, but the payoff is much bigger in the long run. Besides, that’s exactly how you do what you do better. I guarantee it.