A simple way to tell whether you are the true boss is to ask yourself, “Do I have to tell my people that I’m the boss?”
It is not difficult to be a boss in title.
So long as you’re willing to pay for people to work for you, or be bestowed a position of authority, you are the boss.
Unfortunately, title does not automatically bestow you true leadership. Whether you are truly the boss, it is not for you or your superior to say, it depends on how your people are reacting to your leadership.
A simple way to tell whether you are the true boss is to ask yourself, “Do I have to tell my people that I’m the boss?”
If you have to, chances are that you are not.
Leadership is more than giving order and expecting your people to obey you. In the eyes of Lao Tzu, there are four levels of leadership. Let’s see whether you belong to the one that you think you should.
“The best leaders are those their people hardly know exist.
The next best is a leader who is loved and praised.
Next comes the one who is feared.
The worst one is the leader that is despised …The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly.
When they have accomplished their task,
the people say, “Amazing!
We did it, all by ourselves!”Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching quotes (17)
Ask yourself honestly, are you leading your people? What category of leadership according to Tao that you are in?
It is not uncommon that a boss is not a boss. For the same token, it is not uncommon that the real boss is not the boss. The person who is leading your people can be someone who holds no leadership title. He can be a follower in title.
Should the unfortunate scenario happen to be the situation that you were in, dismay not! Try what Lao Tzu said, “To lead, walk behind them.” Be humble; observe what the ‘real leader’ is doing, and what he does to earn the respect and support. You’ll be surprised how much you can gain by just truly listening and observing.
Even when you are not the true boss now, you can definitely become one if you can appreciate the Tao of leadership.
Good luck!
Thanks to David Spinks for the picture.
