It seems like these days, everybody wants to be a boss.
We see it every day on social media: #bossmoves, #likeaboss, #bosslife are just a few of the boss-related hashtags I’ve seen while scrolling through Instagram. In the professional world, being promoted to a leadership role is seen as a huge accomplishment. But many professionals do not understand the responsibility that these roles carry. Everyone wants to be a boss, but the truth is, not everyone has what it takes to be a leader.
Because of COVID-19, the professional landscape is shifting tremendously. With more and more people being allowed to work from home, companies are seeing the need for office spaces obsolete. Companies like Twitter and Facebook have already announced that they will allow their employees to work from home forever. With this shift, leadership roles will be more important than ever.
DISCLAIMER: Before I continue, I’d like to say that I am happy to see my peers leveling up: they’re opening businesses, branding themselves, and moving up in their respective fields. I love to see it! When I talk about being a boss, I’m specifically referring to someone responsible for a group of people in a professional environment.
Being a boss and being a leader are two different things.
A boss is like the queen of England. Or the current President of the United States.
These are just figureheads. A boss is there to make sure that team members are following the rules of the organization. A leader is not only responsible for their team, but they’re also active team members. Leaders are willing to encourage and work alongside team members to reach the desired outcome. The problem is that many people believe these titles are synonymous. This is how we get ‘bad bosses’. According to a study by staffing agency Robert Half, nearly half of all professionals surveyed (49%) have quit a job because of a bad boss.
Being an effective leader means being a mentor, an influencer, a listener, a motivator, a mediator, and a teacher all wrapped in one. Most importantly, leaders have to be effective communicators. Amongst every team, there are multiple personalities and work styles at play. An effective leader will take it upon themselves to learn their employees’ personalities and communication styles to enhance the work environment for their team.
Contrary to popular belief, effective leaders are not born with these skills. They may at one time been a bad boss, too. The first step in being an effective leader is a willingness to learn. You must be able to accept criticism from team members and work on your shortcomings accordingly. Focus on improving yourself, then work on improving your team. Then you’ll be on your way to becoming the true boss you are.
