Boss vs Leader
When people think of a leader in business, they think of the boss, but being a leader doesn’t require a fancy title, official recognition. Leading people is a privilege and being a leader makes you special, but you aren’t special because you are a leader. A leader is just a part of a team which works towards a goal. It is not about you, your status, recognition, or the fancy title. It’s about making things happen. But, if you make things happen, then your status will rise, you will gain recognition. In reality, leadership simple requires one individual to stand up, assert authority, and enable the team to achieve a goal.
The quote of H. Gordon Selfridge explains the difference between boss and leader very nice:
"The boss drives people; the leader coaches them. The boss depends on authority; the leader on good will. The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm. The boss says "I"; The leader says "WE". The boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; the leader fixes the breakdown. The boss says, "GO"; the leader says lets, "GO!"
People follow their boss because they have to and want to keep their jobs. People follow leaders because of who they are. To sum up, just having a title doesn’t make you a leader, leadership is about influence.
