Lead me to the Boss!

Working under somebody can always be stressful; it just depends on whom we are working for. We all find ourselves working for someone or the other in life and the experience depends on whether it is a boss or a leader.

When I was younger, the thought of confronting my boss brought a chill up my spine. I swore to myself that when I will be on the other side of the desk, I will make sure that I can do something to make others feel comfortable. I find being a leader rather than a boss, is far more beneficial, not only to me but my contemporaries as well.

Making them feel as part of a team, gives them the sensitivity of having a greater responsibility in the organization and also reduces my stress levels as the entire burden isn't on my shoulders alone. More than profits, it is your organizations’ human factor that is more valuable. Being a “Boss” can create a gap between you and your colleagues and you must strive to bridge that gap as much as possible. Make sure to instill trust and not fear in them.

Let me share a few tell-tale signs of a leader & a boss.

1. First way for differentiation could be the way how the employees greet the person - The Boss is greeted with a smile. The employees either become straight and stiff or tend to hunch a bit (more like a distant cousin of a bow). Though this may look like respect, it’s not. It is fear. While the Leader is also greeted with a smile, the atmosphere is much more relaxed. This is admiration & respect, which is what you do want!
2. The look on the person's face as he moves around the office - A stern, decided, on-a-mission works well to encourage the team to be go-getters. But a Boss will always overdo it. While it is good to be determined, you must let yourself interact with the team as well. A Leader will make sure to stop by at a colleague’s desk to not only inquire about the work progress but also about things other than work. This is where you connect.
3. Do you guide or do you 'master' - A Boss gives tasks. A Leader asks you to achieve goals and uses terms like “our goals”, “we can and will achieve”.
4. Finding the faults - We all tend to lose our tempers sometimes. The leaders do too. But how to convey that to your employees and how you make them rise out of it is what counts. A Boss will scream at the employee and might also mention “pink-slips” at the drop of a hat. A Leader, though may lose his/her cool at times, will make sure that the employee understands 1) the reason behind the mistake and 2) also suggests a solution for it. Everyone makes mistakes, but as a leader you have to turn that into learning for your team.

Each and every individual in an office, starting from the guard at the gate, to the youngster stuck to his computer screen in his cubicle to the top most management busy with their never-ending meeting schedules, all form a very vital part of an organization. Each one deserves the respect they are entitled to. 

There have been instances, where individuals have gone into depression because of the treatment by their bosses.  It not only tarnishes their name but the name of the organization as well.

The number of CEO’s adopting the ideologies of a leader is increasing tremendously. Coaching employees through an assignment reaps greater benefits than criticizing the employees. Employees don’t need a person of whom they are scared; they need a guide & a mentor.

The joy of running an organization is not in bossing people around but watching them grow into better individuals under your leadership.