| If you have ever witnessed a small child defiantly | | | | other hand knows the value in celebrating learning and |
| exclaim, "You're not the boss of me!" you understand | | | | achievement. |
| a basic human principle. People don't like to be bossed. | | | | * Don't give out the answers - As the boss, it's easy |
| Bossing conjures up visions of a dictatorial "do it my | | | | to play the wise sage when your staff comes to you |
| way or the highway" approach. | | | | with problems. Instead, put on your coaching hat and |
| As a manager or owner of an organization, you must | | | | ask them for the right answers. It will help them grow in |
| understand that leadership is situational. In other words, | | | | their positions and enhance their value to the |
| different situations demand different approaches. So, | | | | organization. |
| there are times when "the boss" needs to lay down | | | | * Empower your people - If you believe you should |
| the law of the land. But this approach should be | | | | control other people by the decisions they make, you |
| reserved for specific instances when collaboration is | | | | are a boss. If you believe that you should facilitate |
| not a prudent option. | | | | others to make decisions and empower them to |
| Your ultimate job as a leader is to grow away from | | | | implement those decisions, you are a coach. |
| bossing and toward coaching. The rewards will be | | | | * Seek to understand, then to be understood - A boss |
| higher morale, better teamwork, more accountability, | | | | will often interact with others by telling, lecturing and |
| and more creativity from your staff. It also means less | | | | directing. A coach, on the other hand, will engage |
| work and stress on you. | | | | others through dialogue by asking, listening and |
| Here are a few things you can do to be a better | | | | requesting. |
| coach: | | | | * Focus on the process - A boss believes you should |
| * Celebrate achievement - Bosses believe that their | | | | focus on the bottom-line. A coach believes in focusing |
| job is to detect and point out errors. A coach on the | | | | on the processes that creates the bottom-line results. |