Leader and boss: similarities and differences

Although being a leader and being a boss are situations that often occur in the same person (especially in business environments), this does not mean that they are the same thing. If you want to know their similarities and differences, read on to find out more. 

Introduction to both concepts

Leader and boss are similar concepts, but not the same. We speak of a leader when a person becomes an example for the rest of the people who accompany him or her (whether in a work environment or otherwise). In contrast, a boss is a person who has the capacity to command. That is, a person who has the capacity to make decisions. 

Traditionally, the two concepts tend to be associated with each other because a person is considered to become a leader because of his or her natural ability to lead others.. However, this is not always the case. When this happens, it is important to identify where the failure has occurred, and to work as much as possible so that, in addition to being a manager, the person in question can become a leader of the rest of the team under his or her responsibility. 

Similarities between leader and boss

Some of the most striking similarities between leader and boss are the following:

• They represent a subject of authorityAlthough in the case of the boss it is because of their position and in the case of the leader it is because of the charisma they exude, in both cases they are people who occupy a position of authority with respect to the rest of the team. 
• They represent a subject of reference in the face of doubtsAlthough for different reasons, both a manager and a leader are subjects of reference in the face of uncertainty for the rest of the team. In other words, they are the people to whom the team will turn in case of doubt or uncertainty. 
• They must make decisionsIn the case of both a manager and a leader, both people have to make decisions that will affect the performance of the tasks of their team or staff under them. 

Differences between leader and boss

Although there are some similarities between a leader and a boss, the reality is that the differences are more striking compared to the similarities. Some of the most striking differences are as follows:

• Origin of the authorityOne of the similarities between a leader and a boss is that they are subjects of authority. However, this authority comes from different sources. In the case of a boss, this authority arises from the position of power he or she holds. In contrast, in the case of a leader, this authority comes from the respect that other people have for him or her, which is derived from the leader's innate charisma and ability. 
• Closeness to the rest of the teamBy virtue of his or her position, an ordinary manager tends to be distanced from the rest of the team. In contrast, a leader tends to see and project a self-image that identifies him or her as part of the team.
• Approach to the way of workingIn the case of a boss, the focus of his or her work is on giving orders. On the contrary, the leader's approach is more focused on exercising a pedagogical role. In other words, he inspires the rest of the team. 

Leader and boss: contradictory subjects?

Although there is a tendency nowadays to emphasise the difference between being a leader and being a boss, the reality is that both positions constitute complementary realities. In fact, it is possible that in the same company there are leaders who do not occupy positions of responsibility like those of a boss. And vice versa, bosses who hold positions of responsibility but fail to exercise leadership among their subordinates. 

However, this does not imply that the two characteristics are contradictory to each other. It is best that every manager can progress to become a leader, and that every natural leader eventually becomes a manager with real recognition in the company. In this way, the following is achieved to unify the advantages of both profiles and bring the best talent to the table when making decisions and leading teams. 

You want to be a leader: think about the needs of your employees 

One of the characteristics that both managers and leaders must take into account is to think about the people they are in charge of. In this sense, those companies that introduce social benefits for their workers achieve a higher staff performance, increased motivation and better retention of talent in their companies. Examples of social benefits include Ticket Restaurant, Childcare Ticket o Transport Ticket, among others. Thanks to these social benefits, employees' working conditions are improved without the need for a direct increase in wages, which benefits both the company and the employees themselves.