Boss and Leader, Similar but not Truly The Same

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A boss and a leader are two terms that can be heard in business world or work groups. Generally, people think that a boss and a leader are similar. However, in this modern day that is full of competitions, the term boss is considered as having a negative connotation than the term leader. The term boss and leader may have similar meaning, but they are not completely the same. They have the same position, authority, and opportunity, but they also have some differences in the way they do their job as ‘someone higher than others’.

In this occasion, I’m going to compare a boss and a leader. They seem similar on the outside, but if we take a closer observation, there will be some differences between a boss and a leader. To clear the confusing perception about the terms boss and leader, I will explain their similarities and their differences.

A boss and a leader have the same position that is higher than their subordinates. Because of this high status, both of a boss and a leader will be seen as someone who is so out of reach. They live in a completely different world from their subordinates. This is not just a mere speculation because they seem to be respected by their subordinates. Everyone who is in lower position will have to bow down because of this gap of position. Their subordinates will also have to be obedient of what their higher ups told them to do. This makes a boss and a leader have a strong presence in the eyes of those who have lower position.

Next, a boss and a leader have the same authority toward their subordinates. They may give orders to their subordinates. No matter what, because of their authority, they have this special power to steer the wheel to their designated goal. As the higher ups who has this special power, they can told their subordinates to do the things that need to be done for them. If their subordinates do some things that are violating the rules, boss and leader may give punishment to them. Any kind of disobedience will be considered as having no self-awareness of someone’s position.

Then, a boss and a leader have the same opportunity to lead their subordinates into the good or bad way. They may take the decision whether they want their subordinates have to walk in the good or bad path. Because they are the influential figures, their actions will be taken as examples by their subordinates. They are considered as the role model for their subordinates. As the figures who are supposed to lead their subordinates, a boss and a leader are the main key that decide their subordinates’ future in the business world.

From the explanations above, we can see that a boss and a leader have some similarities. However, there are some things that make them quite different in terms of how they lead, treats and take responsibilities toward their subordinates.

A boss and a leader don’t have the same way of leading their subordinates. A boss drives his subordinates to achieve the goal. Sometimes, a boss doesn’t want to interfere with the process of reaching that goal. A boss only told what his subordinates  have to do and will demand the result of it. If the outcome of the process done by his subordinates is good, the boss will praise them. However, when the outcome turned out to be out of expectation, a boss will blame his subordinates and won’t take it as his failure as the one who is supposed to lead them. A boss will say, “Go! Do your job!” to his subordinates that might become a mood breaker for them. On the other hand, a leader trains his subordinates in the best way he can. He takes part in the process of achieving the goal together with his subordinates. He encourages his subordinates to do the best they can. Whatever the outcome, a leader won’t blame his subordinates completely because he is aware of his position as the one who lead them. If his subordinates failed in reaching that goal, it means he is also the one to blame because he thinks that he is not good enough as their leader. A leader will say, “Let’s go! We’re in this together.” to boost the confidence of his subordinates.

Next, a boss and a leader treat their subordinates in different ways. A boss looks upon his subordinates as those who are in lower position than him. This way of thinking may make a boss looks arrogant in the eyes of his subordinates. A boss may build a wall between him and his subordinates. He thinks that we are in different worlds. There is a boundary between us that you shouldn’t cross toward his subordinates. He consider the relation between him and his subordinates as just a relation between ‘the higher one who controls the lower ones’. In a different situation, a leader looks upon his subordinates as equal to him and considers them as his co-workers instead of his subordinates. This makes a leader looks friendly in the eyes of his subordinates. He can blend in among his subordinates without feeling any boundary is separating him and his them. This will make his relation with his subordinates gets closer and make the working process becomes enjoyable for both parties. A leader thinks that there’s nothing different between us. We are the same, and we can do everything together.

Then, a boss and a leader has their own ways of taking responsibilities. Usually, a boss tends to clean his hands from any problem that happen in his work group. He doesn’t want to have anything to do with his subordinates when they do something out of expectations. He will blame them and say that everything is their fault. Though, a different thing happens in a leader’s case in terms of taking responsibilities. He will take full responsibility if there is a problem that happen in his work group. He is the leader, so everything that happen regarding his subordinates is in his full responsibility. He feels responsible because he is the one who lead them. Like a driver, he is the one who take his subordinates to the designated destination. If his subordinates get lost on the way, then it is his job to lead them to the right way. If his subordinates get caught in a problem, then it is his job to give them a solution out of the problems.

From the explanations above, we can see that a leader is considered as a better figure than a boss. They may have some similarities like having the same position, authority and opportunity in their work place. However, there are some things that make them different in terms of how they lead, treat and take the responsibilities toward their subordinates. In my opinion, every leader can be a boss, but not every boss is a leader.