Less than a Minute Life Lesson-2410 Promotion and Character

Unit-13

Boss sees difficult subordinates as burden, Whereas Leader don’t Label Subordinates

Let’s understand the context behind which the above difference has been derived. When I say “Bosses sees difficult subordinates as Burden” I mean, they neither invest time on one to one with them or find out the reason why they have become difficult, whereas when I say “Leaders don’t Label Subordinates”, they accept people for what they are, and learn to help them overcome their problems and put them in a developmental track.

When Bosses sees subordinates as Burden, they will label them and work against them by reinforcing their negatives and demotivates them. Whereas, Leaders identifies the reasons for low performance or Negative attitude to works towards correcting it.

Once subordinates are labelled as Burden, their good deeds are buried and they would like to get rid of the burden. Hence with a biased approach appraisal turns to be unfavourable for the subordinates.

Whereas Leaders considers such subordinates as people who require attention and starts approaching them with a sense of concern and engages in regular one to one to help them perform or change their Attitude.

Boss sees subordinates as liabilities and try to reduce the liabilities  whereas Leader sees subordinate as an Asset and starts maintaining the asset.

If subordinates are seen as a burden, they see bosses as barriers for growth, whereas if subordinates are seen as people who needs a helping hand, they see Leaders as Mentors.

Ask yourself the following questions

1.   Do you label subordinates?

2.   Do you see some of your subordinates as burden?
3.   Do you change your subordinate’s role?
4.   Do you invest time on studying your subordinates past performance?
5.   Do you regularly engage in giving feedback?
6.   Do you hold an open discussion to understand the reason for poor performance or change in Attitude?

By answering the above questions, you can understand whether there is a boss in you who labels subordinates and alter your behaviour to develop a biased approach or there is a leader in you brings out the Mentor in you, to develop the subordinates.

Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat them well enough so they don’t want to go

Richard Branson

M.L. Narendra Kumar