“A Boss Says ‘Go,’ but a Leader Says ‘Let’s Go!’”

“A Boss Says ‘Go,’ but a Leader Says ‘Let’s Go!’”
A boss is like a king sitting on a throne. Their office is located at the “top of the pyramid,” so every morning, employees must “climb” just to catch a glimpse of them. The boss’s favorite word is “Me!” Often, they wave their finger around to give orders and, after assigning tasks, watch their employees from a “watchtower” with a telescope. If they see anyone resting or chatting, they might shout, “Hey, this office is not a free playground!”

On the other hand, a leader feels more like a “running coach.” Their office is usually close to their team, and anyone can freely drop in to chat. Their favorite phrase is, “Let’s do this together!” When a leader assigns work, they always say, “Let’s do it together!” And they mean it. Instead of using a telescope, they communicate at eye level with their team and ask, “How can we solve this?” A leader focuses more on finding a way to learn and grow together rather than simply giving orders.

A boss moves people with ‘words,’ while a leader moves people with ‘inspiration.’ The boss talks about “what needs to be done,” but the leader explains “why it needs to be done.” When the boss says, “Finish this project quickly!” the leader says, “Imagine how much we’ll all grow if we succeed in this project!”

The boss’s favorite tool is probably a ‘red pen.’ With this pen, they draw red lines over documents and reports, shouting, “This is wrong; do it again!” Meanwhile, a leader loves their ‘notebook.’ In this notebook, they jot down ideas, share creative thoughts, and spend time brainstorming together.

A boss sees an “employee’s failure” as an “obstacle to success,” but a leader sees it as an “opportunity for growth.” While the boss often says, “We need to find out who messed up!” the leader asks, “What can we learn from this?”

In conclusion, the difference between a boss and a leader can be summarized as the difference between ‘command’ and ‘inspiration,’ ‘orders’ and ‘collaboration,’ and ‘control’ and ‘growth.’ A boss shouts at their team, “Do your job better!” while a leader works with their team to ask, “How can we do this better?”

So, here’s a simple test to determine if you are a boss or a leader in your workplace. If, when you enter the office, your employees silently scream, “Please, don’t look at me!” there’s a good chance you’re a boss. But if your entrance makes them think, “Great! It’s time for some new ideas!” then congratulations—you are a true leader!