I recently came across this article and as someone who happens to work in a startup, found it to be quite informative.
Q: What is the difference between a leader and a boss?
There’s no place where strong leadership is needed more than in a hectic startup environment in which the odds are most stacked against you, and Herculean efforts to gain and maintain traction are required daily, not quarterly. So I see the distinction between the two mindsets an important one to make.
Bosses stick to a preordained script and defined roles, connoting little else but hierarchal authority and approaching their contributions in the context of their own careers—their compensation, personal goals, place on the proverbial totem pole. Leaders, especially the transformational ones, inspire positive change in others, earning trust, creating cohesion and raising morale. In short, bosses tell people what to do, while leaders inspire people to do their best.
When getting a company off the ground, there is no room for bosses, only leaders.
An ability to chart the course and get everyone pointed in the right direction.
A visionary can set the path for the company, while a solid boss can execute it, but it takes a true leader to do both. There’s too much ground to cover in a startup environment for senior employees to be focused solely on either long-term strategy or day-to-day tasks. Instead, it’s vital to create a culture in which people feel a sense of ownership and efficacy in growing the company. I expect all Compass’ employees to be both visionaries who recognize opportunities and field marshals who are constantly executing upon them.
An understanding of how to generate resources, not just allocating them.
A visionary can set the path for the company, while a solid boss can execute it, but it takes a true leader to do both. There’s too much ground to cover in a startup environment for senior employees to be focused solely on either long-term strategy or day-to-day tasks. Instead, it’s vital to create a culture in which people feel a sense of ownership and efficacy in growing the company. I expect all Compass’ employees to be both visionaries who recognize opportunities and field marshals who are constantly executing upon them.
source:entrepreneur