Start Managing Like a Leader – Not Like a Boss

June 13th, 2014

Say the word “boss” to a group of people and their minds will conjure up an image of someone they worked for in the past or maybe their present boss. Now say the word “leader” and more often than not, a different image will pop up in their heads; perhaps a world leader or someone who fought for change and progress but not someone who simply barked out orders and punched a clock. These two words will bring up different things for each person but there is usually a distinction and it is usually associated with a positive or negative feeling. If you are a manager, how do you lead your team in a positive way instead of just bossing around your medical staff?

Leaders Lead by Example

A boss is someone who is in charge of a situation or a group of people and they are placed in that position because they are the most qualified or they were at the right place at the right time. The boss is usually perceived as someone who won’t get their hands dirty, that’s why they have employees under them to do all the work. There are exceptions to every situation but bosses are rarely seen as motivating factors in a workplace or even inspirational factors in a person’s life but a leader will make a lasting impression in the lives of those around them.  Bosses can become great leaders and take their organization to the next level by understanding these 3 factors:

  1. Leaders aren’t afraid of hard work. They will work tirelessly until the job is done and they are unconcerned with receiving any credit for their work. They are working towards the good of the whole, not just their own well-being.
  2. Leaders will build up their team rather than tear them down. Even when a team member is headed in the wrong direction, a good leader can help to redirect them in a more positive way without the other person feeling inferior or singled out. Leaders know how to work with people to bring out their best and strive on a daily basis to edify rather than discourage.
  3. Leaders know when to push forward and when to stop. Some projects and some situations will warrant a push, in spite of obvious struggles, while others will require the team to move on to something more productive. This can happen in the healthcare field frequently as laws change and regulations require new adherence and facilities may need to shift their focus or specialty.

Leaders are those who inspire from within their team, not out of fear but because of the respect they have earned from those around them. While a boss can be trained to do their job, a leader has innate qualities that can be developed but rarely taught. Most leaders will have their own source of inspiration that has brought them to their current career path.

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