Boss, Manager, Supervisor, and Leader.

What is the difference between being a boss, manager, supervisor, and a leader, and are they roles performed by separate individuals?

Often when someone is given the title of ‘Supervisor’ or ‘Manager’ by their organisation, they assume that their job is to ‘supervise’ or ‘manage’ others.

Words have meanings attached to them.

Here are some common meanings that I have come across:

– Boss = A autocratic person who is instructive towards others, and whose main focus is the overall business.

– Manager = Someone who manages resources needed to get the job done, and is transactional in their approach towards others.

– Supervisor = Ensures the work is done to the desired standard, and may guide others how to go about it.

– Leader = Cares for the people they work with, lays out the vision, and the steps needed to get there.

This is what I usually reveal:

1 – A boss tends to be an endearing or demeaning term we give to the person in-charge.

2 – A Manager or Supervisor are simple job titles given by the organization.

3 – The leader is a mindset that anyone can develop.

Humans are complex organic creature. At work, there is no one way to get them to do perform at the desired level. A team lead needs to know when to be a boss, manager, supervisor, or a leader.

A person plays all four roles to varying degrees, depending on the situation, and the separation between each role is actually very blurred.

For those who understand and embrace this seemingly simple concept, it changes the way one manages and leads people. They are no longer attached to their work given title, and become more adaptable in their leadership approach.

This understanding gives them an edge over those who do not.

What do you think?

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