10 Differences Between a Boss and a Leader

Joining the workforce means that all of us at some stage in our careers have had to answer to the “boss”, many of us still do, but have you ever stopped to think about whether they are a boss or a leader?

Throughout my career I’ve strived to be the best I can be, I’ve made mistakes and I’ve learned some hard lessons along the way, but one thing I know without a doubt, is that I aspire to be a “leader”!

The waters can become somewhat muddy when we talk about bosses and leaders, after all a boss can be the person in the big side office with the snazzy desk and chair, but the leader could be the person sitting next to you on the same nest of desks. That’s not to say that that side office boss isn’t a good leader, but they can provide good or bad leadership, whereas a leader can never be a bad boss!

A boss tells their staff to go and get things done, a leader not only gets things done, they empower and motivate their team in the process.

A boss gives the task to someone who is a leader, while a leader works with the team to complete the task. Once completed, a boss will usually take credit for a job well done, while the leader will take the whole team out for drinks.

You may respect the position your boss holds, but you respect and love the leader!

This infographic from octatools.com provides a visual of the 10 main differences between a boss and a leader. Read them, digest them and ask yourself, whether your manager is a boss or a leader.

Take a long look and yourself, which would you rather be?