At first thought, maybe the terms “boss” and “leader” seem like the same, but in reality, they are quite different. In the workforce, it’s much better to be a leader for your team, guiding them to success, than a boss who just gives orders without a greater purpose.
Follow These 4 Tips to Be a Great Leader
- Be a Good Listener
A leader listens to all the members of their team to learn about conflicts, successes and everything in between. Where a boss may only ask for informaiton from a few trusted employees, a leader knows each employee can offer valuable perspective.
By listening to every team member, a leader will hear about issues before anything becomes too big and unmanageable. They will also be in a great position to positively impact worker performance and productivity.
- Encourage Self-Awareness
It’s important that a leader understands their team members vary in how they will process information. While some people like to discuss ideas openly, others like to communicate them in a private meeting or email. If bad news is delivered, some workers might want a walk to process the information, while others might want to quickly chat with a friend.
Along the same lines, team events should appeal to both types of employees. Bigger gatherings with fun icebreakers are great, but make sure to have some quieter mellow team-building events as well, so everyone feels comfortable to connect.
- Seek Collaborative Solutions
Unfortunately, a boss tends to think that they know it all. A leader, however, knows that’s not the case. A good leader will seek to collaborate with team members on a variety occasions, especially if they don’t know the right answer or solution to an issue.
- Show Support
It’s important for a leader to be actively involved with their team. Workers can see their leaders support them if they are working alongside them, truly engaged.
In addition, while a traditional boss might pass along blame, a leader understands they are always held accountable because of their leadership role. This means a leader is ready and willing to share both the ups and downs of projects and tasks.
Be the Leader Your Team Needs
For more advice on how to become a better leader rather than a boss, contact MS-IL Staffing & Packaging to talk to workforce experts.
