Leader or Boss?

All opinions in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

"People by and large become what they think about themselves." = Dr. Bob Rotella in Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect

As many readers are young people, choose to become the person you want to become. Do you want to become a boss or a leader? Answering that question escapes some leaders. 

Overlap can occur, but what separates leaders from bosses?

Leaders inspire as they prioritize team development. They make every decision with the best interest of the team as their "North Star." Brad Stevens says, "What does our team need now?"

They consider how planning, preparation, practice, and decisions impact both the well-being of the team and the development of individuals. 

When well-done, leadership creates something that people want to become a part of. The whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts. Training and decisions become "force multipliers." 

In ancient Rome, a position existed called "anteambulo," literally meaning "walking in front of." They helped smooth the path for those who followed. Another expression relates to "finding canvases for others to paint on." 

In Adam Grant's book, Give and Take, he describes personal styles as givers, matchers, and takers. If you only give, you will exhaust yourselves. The people who do best are "ambitious givers." 

It's not all sunshine and roses as leaders must make difficult decisions, "Sophie's Choice" and navigate hard conversations. 

Developing leadership is a choice.

Lagniappe. There's no one way to teach anything. Here are some additional ideas on training serving with a wall assist.