Bosses vs. Leaders – Which are You? | Jack Canfield

Hi there, I'm Jack Canfield and today I want to talk to you about the differences between being a boss and being a leader and how to be someone who inspires others through love and respect instead of coercing them through bullying and fear. Just as a reminder, I want you to know I release new videos every week, so click the subscribe button and the bell icon to receive notifications when I release new new videos. Now, I want you to consider this question. Are you a boss or are you a leader? Understanding the difference between the two will help you become a better manager, business owner, teacher, trainer, coach, parent, even a better spouse. To start off, when I say boss, I'm talking about the kind of manager whose leadership strategies are all about command and control. Bosses want to be seen as a dominant force in the office and in the business. They tend to manage their employees through intimidation and through fear. They have a very top down way of doing things and think it's more important to be in control of their team rather than to establish trust and inspiration. Now, often a boss's management style is very rigid. There's no nuance, no ability to see different sides of an issue. The boss declares, I'm in charge and I've decided this and I expect that without encouraging any input from their team. It's the boss's way or the highway. Now, of course, big decisions need to be made all the time in business, and being decisive is necessary and important. But when a boss insists on making all the decisions on his or her own and never asks for ideas or feedback for the team, it makes the employees feel undervalued, like they have no useful contributions to make. And that will make them feel discouraged and disconnected from the success of the organization. Leaders, on the other hand, are inspirational. That's the first big difference between bosses and true leaders. Leaders don't command, they inspire. Instead of making declarative statements of how things will be done, the leader asks for input and then provides a compelling vision that others are eager to get behind because they see their own ideas and input reflected in it. Their leaders then give the team the tools, the confidence and the support they need to do their best work. As a result, they end up feeling more ownership and more connection to the organization's success. Now, while we talk about the qualities of leaders, make sure to click the link on the top right of the screen to take a 60 second quiz and discover your true leadership potential. Now, the second big difference between leaders and bosses is that leaders are transparent and open. Bosses usually only tell employees things On a quote, need to know basis. Now, information is power. And bosses, often fueled by their own insecurities, will hoard and keep it to themselves. They see information as a currency, a commodity to be doled out to those who are worthy and in return for other benefits. It's a short sighted strategy and one that often breeds suspicion and distrust. Now, transparency on their hand is a powerful tool. That's why leaders take a more open and honest approach to their management. They understand they don't have to have all the answers, so they share what information they have, and then they open it up for discussion. Because they know that sharing information and then seeking feedback from others and input from them invites new perspectives, new ways of thinking, and new solutions. Leaders understand that people want to be valued. They want to know that their efforts, their insights, and their ideas are recognized and appreciated. Leaders who practice what's called open book management, meaning that everyone has access to all the financial information, salaries, expenses and profits, send a signal to their employees that they are an important member of the team and that their contributions matter. Not only that, they show that they're open to and willing to consider multiple options and different approaches. What a powerful message to send. Now, the third big difference between leaders and bosses is the bosses tend to blame others when things go wrong. It's my staff who failed to get the job done, so it's not my fault that it didn't work out. And on the flip side of that, bosses are also more likely to take credit for the work that they didn't do. If it's my staff that did the good work, they'll rationalize, then I deserve the credit for being in charge. The result of this kind of boss behavior is that it creates a culture of fear and uncertainty in which employees know that the hammer will fall on them if the expected results are not produced. And that's no way to build loyalty, forge a positive work environment, or to develop a team. Leaders are different. They take responsibility for everything that goes wrong and give their team all the credit when things go right. Leaders know that it's their job to make sure the path is clear of obstacles so that the team can be successful. Leaders roll up their sleeves and they get to work. They don't just sit in an office waiting for people to report to them. They make themselves available to solve problems, to offer support, or to jump in to help with the work. Now, finally, the fourth big difference between bosses and leaders is that leaders listen to their employees and let them know that they're being heard. Leaders care about the opinions and the ideas of the people on their team. They encourage their team to express their thoughts without fear of criticism or or judgment. Not only that, leaders know that by listening actively to their team, they will be more likely to recognize patterns that emerge, address unspoken concerns that may exist, and provide the necessary clarity to help their team do their best work. So now that you know the difference between a boss and a leader, which one would you say you are and what can you do to become an even more effective leader in your office, your business, your your profession, or even in your family? Remember, the way you act and interact with others will determine whether you're seen as a boss or a leader. And I promise you that when you focus on being a true leader rather than an authoritarian boss, you will find it so much easier to earn respect and deliver better outcomes for your team and for your organization. So now I'd like to hear your thoughts after watching this video. Who are some of the leaders you've worked with and what qualities did they have that made them such a great leader to work with? And if you feel inspired to answer that question, please leave a comment below with your answer. I'd love to read what you have to say. Thanks for watching and remember, nothing in your life will change for the better until you do. Now, if you found this video helpful, please make sure you like it, share it with a friend who may need it, and subscribe to my channel. For more videos like this one, and for some additional resources on how to become a better leader, visit my website@jackcampfield.com thanks again for watching. And remember, nothing in your life will change for the better until you do.