When I hear this word, I can't help but sense a particular tone linked to it. "My boss,” “I am your boss,” “the boss told me." It has a very authoritarian ring to it and, in my opinion, is quickly becoming an outdated word. 

After twenty years in recruitment, I have seen the transition from this outdated term to a more specific approach where candidates, colleagues and clients use official titles - "my director," my manager," my supervisor”. Alongside this has been a trend to look to people in the workplace as "leader”, often regardless of their title.

 I know "boss" is just a term of reference, but I often wonder whether there's a common school of thought or behaviour pattern exercised by people who like to be called it.

Leadership takes many forms, and now more than ever, good leaders need to be aware of what individuals require from their jobs and what successful teams need to function effectively. There's a distinct difference between someone who considers themselves to be a "boss" and one who considers themselves to be a "leader." 

The latest census results have confirmed that Millennials are beginning to take over the Baby Boomer population. So now, more than ever, managers must evaluate their own skill set to consider the importance of their leadership styles, and which one caters best to future generations who are demanding a more considerate and inclusive workplace.

After interviewing thousands of candidates, we can see a trend in the way people refer to their managers - a "boss" tends to focus on structure, control, and authority. They are generally hands-off, demanding results, and at times, not fully understanding the struggles their teams are potentially experiencing in the trenches. They often set unrealistic targets and blame others when things go wrong. 

On the other hand, a leader strives to inspire their people, making sure they are personally present, asking questions, and gaining insight into what is happening on the ground. They want to help build accountability in their people by instilling a passion for the organisation they represent. They are motivated by purpose and set clear goals and expectations for how they want their organisations to be viewed and experienced by workers and the community at large. They are generally thoughtful, empathetic, and happy to communicate with the entire organisation to continually adapt and evolve. Leaders believe in mentoring over telling and understand the importance of feedback from all their workers and the vital role this plays in developing a solid workforce. In short, they consider themselves part of the team and not above it!

In times of significant post-COVID change, the word "boss," in my opinion, is rapidly fizzling into extinction. Yes, there will always be times when lines must be drawn, and authority must be clear, but I believe a well-immersed leader who has earned the respect and admiration of their workers by being present, getting their hands dirty, and leading by example, will suffer far less adversity and enjoy many more successes for themselves and their organisations. 

At Alexander Appointments, Danijela and I believe in the word "leader," and will always strive to be this for our business and the people we work alongside. We are both confident it will be a strong trend for future managers who are constantly being inspired to change and adapt.