I recently read an article that referred to those in charge as leaders. This in my opinion is not correct. Just because you are the supervisor, manager, or boss does not mean you are a leader. Leadership is not a title, Leadership is about how others perceive you. A true leader is someone that others look up to and respect. They have knowledge, experience and are competent in performing the tasks of those they oversee. A leader makes it a group effort and participates in achieving the goal. A boss maintains a level of separation and displays an attitude of superiority that a leader never would. Leaders are those who set the example. They motivate and inspire and are seen as part of the team. The article I read was an excellent one but I felt that clarification was needed in defining the term of a leader. Supervisor, Boss, Manager are titles, Leadership is a role. The titles and the role are not always synonymous. For example, if you came to the school during P.E. you would see most of the teachers standing nearby giving instructions to the students. Then you would see that one teacher who has included herself in the activity. She is part of the team. She is still able to instruct the students, but she is now able to display the skills needed and is setting the example of what ‘good sportsmanship’ and ‘teamwork’ mean. She has motivated and inspired the students and has gained their respect. They see her as a true Leader. While the other classes view their P.E. teachers still as simply the one in charge. This may not be the best example, but it was the best one I could think of for simplicity.
Month: March 2024
Is your supervisor just a boss?
Why do we end up with a supervisor who has never done our job? For the longest time I have wondered why some companies hire people for supervisory positions who have absolutely no experience doing what those they are in charge of do. When this is the case, your supervisor cannot support you or even truly help you, this means they are nothing more than a boss. Someone to point out what you are doing wrong. Someone who is always there to reprimand but never there to give a pat on the back or commend your efforts. These supervisors will never be thought of as leaders by those they oversee for many reasons. 1. Leaders lead by example; if you have never done my job, how can you set the example.? 2. Leaders are respected. How do you respect someone who is telling you how to do something that they have never done themselves? So why do some companies have those who are just a boss? I recently discovered that if a company cares about its employees and wants to ensure they receive the training and support needed to succeed, they will only promote or hire a supervisor who has earned the title by having experience in all aspects of the jobs of those they will be supervising. Someone who has the potential to be seen as a true leader or mentor. However, if a company is not concerned with the well-being of their employees, they will choose their supervisors by convenience. Their lack of effort stems from their lack of concern. They will put in any joe blow, just because the government requires them to have a supervisor for each department in the company. So if you your supervisor is merely just a boss, you can be certain that you are working for a company that does not value their workers.
HomeMade-HickChick 