You got the title, the business card, maybe even the corner office. Well done! You have all the trappings of a leader. You have a “seat at the table,” as they say.

You’ve earned this, right? Yes, probably. But here’s the hard truth – your work is not done. This is no time to rest on laurels. The bottom line is that anyone can be a boss, but only a few are true leaders.

Bosses are very different than leaders. Traditional bosses tend to have a style that is about command and control. They micromanage. They intimidate and they are often focused on the wrong things. They tend to lead with fear rather than encouragement. They are, just like the word, ‘bossy.’

Bosses sometimes disguise themselves as leaders, but inevitably they are revealed as imposters when their egos take over and they choose their own self-interests to the detriment of their team or organization. Bosses fundamentally believe that being in charge is the same as being a leader — but it’s not.

Leaders have several key differences from bosses. They have a humanity and humility that everyone around them can relate to and be inspired by. Leaders have empathy for others because they understand their role is not to do everything themselves, but to inspire people to their greatest potential.

And perhaps the most important leadership trait – and the hardest to pinpoint – is that we know it when we see it. Whether it’s in the boardroom, politics, the military, the front of a classroom or on the sidelines of a football field.

Make a commitment to embody true leadership traits. Share the credit. Be empathetic. Talk less, listen more. Show your emotional intelligence. Be generous with your time and feedback. Lead by example and hold yourself to high standards. In other words, be an authentic leader.

The best way that I have found to create emotional intelligence and build awareness is through DiSC® Certification and Everything DiSC. DISC provides unbiased language for people to talk about their own strengths and weaknesses and understand people’s behavioral differences and I’ve used this tool with thousands of leaders over the past 18 years.

If you are interested in DISC certification, sign up in the next few days to join us for the Wiley DISC Certification course that will begin on September 14^th. You’ll also get to join us on September 28-29 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in beautiful downtown Boulder for an in-person certification workshop. Attendees of the 2-day event will earn the credential of Certified Everything DiSC Workplace Facilitator from Wiley. For more information, visit our Everything DiSC Certification Workshops registration page.