Being promoted to a management role may seem like a great accomplishment, but many professionals find the responsibility to be more challenging than they imagined. Being someone's boss doesn't mean you are a good leader. According to a recent study by Robert Half, 49% of professionals surveyed have quit a job due to a bad boss. To become a good leader, you should influence, inspire and mentor your team members. Effective leadership is increasingly important in the workplace, as more and more employees are leaving great companies over one resolvable element – bad bosses.

1. Bosses command; leaders influence

A key difference is that a boss's authority comes from their position, whereas a leader's authority comes from their ability to influence others.A boss is there to ensure that employees follow the rules of an organization, but a leader will encourage others to think for themselves to achieve the desired ends," Andrews told Business News Daily. A boss will need to give orders to instruct others what to do, but a leader can inspire others to find the best way forward, whilst motivating them to maximize their potential. Although subordinates only follow bosses because they have to, bosses can grow their influence through encouraging the behavior. You can grow your influences by caring for your team, listening to their thoughts and ideas, and sharing the 'why' behind the decisions and actions that you take," said Gosnell. "This is the second step in leadership, but it makes all the difference, and people will follow you because they want to, and not just because they have to.


2. Bosses explain; leaders inspire

You shouldn't just explain a task and leave it in your employee's hands. A boss ensures you understand your work, while a leader supports and guides you through it. The biggest difference between a leader and a boss is that a good leader inspires people and makes them excited about their work


3. Bosses discipline; leaders mentor

Employees are human, and mistakes are to be expected. Who you are as a boss is evident in how you deal with mishaps. While bosses are more likely to use a reward/punishment system to discourage poor behavior, great leaders understand that employees benefit from encouragement and mentorship. If an employee performs well in a specific line of work, that strength should be recognized and mastered. It's important to note the strengths and weaknesses of each employee and mentor them independently. Rather than attacking skill gaps, work to patch them by guiding employees through their shortcomings and building their confidence in new areas.

4. Bosses delegate tasks; leaders delegate authority

A boss focuses on the objectives of their department and is stringent in following protocol to achieve those goals. They think for the short term, delegate tasks to their subordinates, and tend to micromanage. A boss gets results by telling people what to do and is concerned with doing it right ," she said. "A leader is skilled at results by enabling their team to figure out what to do, is concerned with doing what is right . leaders seek to drive commitment by setting an example for others to follow and inspire others by encouraging development. They are comfortable delegating authority and avoid micromanaging, preferring to see others develop. Utilizing their excellent communication and negotiation skills, they will influence others for the overall benefit of the organization.


5. Bosses are above the team; leaders are part of the team

A boss doesn't take the time to get to know their employees as a leader does. Bosses view their team members as subordinates, whereas leaders let go of this hierarchical distinction and view their team members as equal contributors. To be a leader, it's important that you facilitate positive relationships with your employees. Work with their needs and create a culture that encourages open communication. By getting to know your team better, you'll be able to understand how to explain your vision in a way that will really connect with each person," said Macdonald. "This means you can personalize the way you motivate people.



To be a good boss or leader, you can incorporate a few key strategies into your behavior. Experts listed three of these strategies as thoughtfulness, communication, and clear expectations for your employees. Treating your employees with thoughtfulness. A good leader conducts their decision-making process based on the best interests of the team as well as the company. Frequent changes in focus and conflicting priorities will leave staff feeling anxious. However, effective communication and a clear goal will ensure that teams all pull in the same direction.

Reference

https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1404-characteristics-good-boss.html#:~:text=To%20become%20a%20good%20leader,and%20setting%20clear%20employee%20expectations.