A Better Term Than Boss

Earlier this week, I wrote an article, Motivating Our Team Members, that I did not send out as a weekly post simply because it’s about two pages and I try to keep these shorter, to about a page. Click the link above or email me for a copy of the article.

I received a phone call yesterday from my former colleague, John Gussenhoven. John had read the article and wanted to suggest that boss is not a good description of a leader, that is, a leader does not boss some around.

John’s message rings true. It is in line with my suggestion I often offer to senior executives, which is to think of and treat their people as teammates or team members, not as employees or staff. I know, some may say what I suggest is rhetoric and minor, yet I don’t think so, as I believe considering people as team members will positively affect our attitude and appreciation of them.

An athlete does not want to let her teammates down, recognizes she cannot succeed alone, that it’s a team effort.

So it is in business, particularly if we are to sustain long-term success.

A leader wants to be side by side with her teammates, encouraging them and, in business, asking them for their ideas and patiently listening and learning from them, and inquiring what they need to do their best work

I definitely like John’s suggestion about the connotation of the word boss.  The definition of boss is someone who employs and supervises. Sure, that’s true. I have not come up with a better term yet. I do like the concept of a leader being like the conductor of a symphony orchestra, helping the many members each contributing to the beautiful music of the orchestra.

In business, it’s about the power of a true team.  There’s nothing like it. While I have not come up with a better term than boss, what is more important is the message, that we are members of a team and the most effective leaders are servant leaders.

If you have ideas about a term prefer to boss, please send me an email.  I’d be very appreciative.

Remember, managers focus on numbers; leaders focus on people.