Being the Leader in the Workplace

So you’re the group chief.

Being the group leader is a tough job. It requires a precarious balance between being your subordinates “friend” and being the “boss”. Both facets require different attitudes and balancing the two is half the battle of earning the term “leader”.

As the boss, knowing where to draw the line is a very big factor. Even a bigger one is informing you’re subordinates that there is a line. As mentioned, two faces must be in equilibrium.

The Friend Face

This attitude basically reflects that you are the type of boss that the team members can go to. It’s the emphatic side, the part that listens to work related problems and gives advices. The friend face makes sure that each team member is comfortable around the group, therefore making them freer when voicing out opinions. A good leader knows that terrorizing the employee won’t really work. Terror doesn’t let the creative juices flow, it freezes it. As a leader, it’s your job to stimulate those brain cells into working for the betterment of a project.

The Boss Face

This is the face that abides by the rules. As mentioned above, being the boss is knowing where to draw the line. You have good repertoires with your subordinates, yes. You communicate well with them and they generally treat you as a friend. But when it comes to work, then professionalism takes center stage. As a leader, you let them know what their role in the team is and what is expected of them. Being friends with the boss doesn’t mean mistakes would be easily forgotten. When a subordinate makes an error, then a warning is in order. If done again, then perhaps it is time to take disciplinary actions.