Leadership: Would you rather be a boss or a leader?

Leadership styles are extremely important in changing and transforming individuals and organizations with a commitment to high performance. The role of leadership is to promote change. Leadership today is not only important at the top but it applies to all levels of the organization. Emerging leadership styles include charismatic, transformational, visionary, and self-directing work teams. Successful leaders display traits that will create a positive environment, those include:

• High level of energy

• Achievement oriented

• Emotional maturity

• Self-confidence

• Integrity

• Perseverance

• Cognitive ability

• Flexibility

Bosses v. Leaders

A boss drives. A leader leads.

A boss relies on authority . A leader relies on cooperation.

A boss says, “I”. A leader says, “We”.

A boss creates fear. A leader creates confidence.

A boss knows how. A leader shows how.

A boss creates resentment. A leader creates enthusiasm.

A boss fixes blame. A leader fixes mistakes.

A boss makes work drudgery. A leader makes work interesting.

Source: McCuddy, Michael (2005) Organizational Behavior

Leadership in high performance work teams change the leadership role by making it more of a facilitative one which encourages team members to lead themselves. With the constant changes in the fast paced environment, the new leadership styles facilitate change throughout the organization which increases the bottom-line. Today, leadership training can assist individuals throughout the organization so that they can prepare for their new roles in a high performance organization.