We all know that there are a collection of 4 letter words you shouldn’t use in polite conversation, which except in the most gruff environments, you especially wouldn’t use at work.

Today, I want to talk about another 4 letter word. It’s one you hear all the time, and may have even used yourself. Yet, despite pop culture often glorifying it, it’s not good, which is why today I’m talking about it.

The word: BOSS.

In this episode, we explain the important differences between being a boss and a leader. We also teach you how to overcome the challenges of stopping being a boss and becoming a leader your time wants to follow.

Show Notes and Key Actions for You to Take:

• To stop being a boss, and become a great, servant leader:  

1. Admit it. Tell your team you want to pay more attention to their needs and be more empowering. Admit you’ve been bossy.
2. Listen. Let your team vent. They’re likely frustrated with you in a variety of ways.
3. Shields down. Some of it will hurt. Try not to be too defensive. Ask for examples so you can develop more empathy from them.
4. Take action. Whatever they tell you, look for ways to make them feel heard. Something small and incremental right away is better than a big gesture that takes a long time.
5. Stay committed. It will not happen over night. You have to keep working at it and over time your team will believe in you more.
6. Focus on buy in. Bosses make a lot of decisions on their own. To change, start soliciting your team’s feedback, and incorporate what you can.
7. Keep listening. It’s a never ending journey to empower and involve your team. And chance takes time for you to fully embrace and for your team to believe.   

Links for Further Reading and Learning:

• You can listen to Dan Pink’s excellent post on bringing out the best in your employees in his TED talk here called“The Puzzle of Motivation”.
• Need to turn around a team with low morale, because you’ve been too bossy? Start here:
  • How managers can cause low employee morale
  • How to keep your team engaged when you have low morale at work
  • How to stop being a bad leader and turn around a disengaged team
  • The 7 Deadly sins of bad management
• And if you want help asking the right questions and keeping your promises as a leader, then you should sign up for Lighthouse. It’s purpose built to keep you organized and teach you the right things to ask and do to be a great leader, not a boss. Start your 21 day free trial here.