Do businesses need bosses or leaders?

Lawrence Koh

MD & Founder, iFly Singapore

Today’s business landscape calls more for a leader than a boss - someone who puts himself at the forefront of the company, leading by example, motivating his staff. Being an entrepreneur from the ground up, I feel that a leader needs to embody qualities that are essential in creating and maintaining an effective and happy team. A leader must be involved, not just in setting a vision but living it daily. He leads by developing, motivating and inspiring his team. Then there are times when he needs to take a step back, assess the business from a macro-level in order to forecast its future. A business cannot survive on just the here and now, but should always be forward-thinking if it is to survive and soar. Finally, a leader is a mentor, grooming his team members to one day lead themselves.

Jacqui Barratt

CEO – APAC, Salt

First and foremost, a business needs a person who can execute and make things happen. Ideally, that person will also have a combination of skills that allows him or her to develop a vision and strategy – and drive it forward. It’s not a matter of needing a boss or a leader, but needing both. One cannot exist without the other. Execution without clear direction or vision will result in fruitless activity without a sense of purpose, while great strategy isn’t great until it is executed properly to deliver results. This doesn’t mean everyone needs to have a strategic mindset – after all, we still need the ‘doers’ – but any talent in a senior position and in charge of a team must possess key leadership competencies to coach, engage and motivate. Nothing happens without engaged people who are encouraged to do their best.

Callum Bothwell

MD - Asia Pacific, Faithful+Gould

Businesses need leaders, not bosses. Leaders motivate their staff by setting vision and directional strategy. They empower their workforce to be the best that they can be for themselves and the organisation. This engagement involves setting expectations, supporting and actively seeking inputs so that the company culture and “direction of travel” benefits from the experience of all. Conversely, bosses take a “top-down” approach, often dealing out macro-level instructions and stifling empowerment with control. Good leaders are self-aware and acknowledge that no one can be the best at everything. This is reflected in the way that leaders surround themselves with others who have complementary skill sets and collaborate for the best strategies and decisions. This management style brings benefit to all organisational levels because it recognises that great teams will always trump individual brilliance.

Vincent Ho

MD, aAdvantage Consulting

Employees are people first, colleagues second. Once your staff feel that you care for them as people and that there is a common future together, they start to commit themselves to what you stand for and believe in you. You no longer need to watch over their shoulders but instead look out for ways to enable and motivate them to do the right things. You identify and remove organizational and people inhibitors so they can focus on the right things. Mistakes do occur and the learning helps the organization and team become stronger and more relevant. You are LEADING well. BOSS! Your staff call out to you, not because you hire and appraise them. It’s the respect and confidence they have in you, they are willing to spend a big part of their waking hours making a difference with you.

Ramesh Nuggihalli

President and MD - Greater Asia, Xylem

In today’s businesses, we need bosses who are also seen as leaders. Leadership is associated with creating a vision, setting a strategy, engaging the talent, and delivering results. Bosses are typically associated as being much more tactical, strong-willed with a direct approach to getting things done. In the complex and competitive world we live in today, we need leaders who are strategic yet tactical, engaging yet goal-oriented, delivering results while approaching issues with a sense of purpose and belonging. In the technology sector, good leadership is critical for fostering a culture of innovation to continuously develop solutions for today’s challenges while being able to anticipate tomorrow’s emerging issues. Hence, it is essential for leaders to invest in talent, build strong communities and encourage people to grow into their own leadership roles to adapt to change and remain resilient.

Compiled by Rumi Hardasmalani

rumih [at] mediacorp.com.sg