In case you missed it, October 15th was National Boss Day, a day for employees to celebrate and honor their bosses. The holiday caused me to pause and think about the term “Boss” and what it meant. Reflecting on that, I was reminded of how important it is to be a leader instead of a boss.
A boss is … 
The person in charge. He/she writes the checks, takes responsibility, and grants permission. Sure, a boss can gets things done. They put out fires, manage employees, and run the day to day. But being the boss is not what we should aspire to be. What we should aspire to be is a leader.
A leader is …
Way more than a boss. A leader sets the tone for the organization. They LEAD and inspire employees to do better and be better. A leader has a mission and vision and drives the organization towards it. They plan for the future and curate a culture that exemplifies the mission and vision of the company. They look for solutions to organizational challenges and develop their employees to help them grow and learn.
Qualities of a leader
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell
While everyone has their own, unique leadership style, these 10 leadership qualities can be found in the best leaders.
- Honesty & Integrity
- Confidence
- Commitment
- Passion
- Strong communication skills
- Decisive
- Accountable
- The ability to empower others
- Creativity
- Empathy
- Emotional intelligence
- Open-minded
- Influential
- Problem solver
Are you a leader or a boss?
Bosses tell you what to do. Leaders tell you why and how to do it.
Bosses need you to perform. Leaders want you to be successful.
Bosses measure success by title, rank, and hierarchy. Leaders measure success by the passion and impact of the people they employ.