Walking into work today I questioned myself about the kind of boss I am. Am I a boss or a leader? As the owner of a business that has been around for 10 years this is a good question. So, I started asking my employees past and present of what they thought of me as to the question.

I reached out to an old employee a forty-one-year retired vet —we will call him Tim. Tim when you worked with me was I a boss or a leader? His response was a good one.

You fill both roles as the Owner with a one-man shop. You know your products and services. You can explain to customers what your abilities can do for what their expectations are on their vehicle. You give an amazing service and product to your customers for a fair price. You kept a clean serviceable shop, which promotes first opinion of you and your service.

Things that I wish I could have seen grow were guiding and giving instructions with patience. When your stressed reach out and talk to others and don’t hold it in, most of all do not micro- manage. As I spoke to Tim, he opened my eyes to how I was.

I then reached out to Tony a 3yr Army vet who worked for my business for a year and a half. Tony, I have been reaching out to others that are working for me or have, and the question I ask is did you see me as a boss or a leader?

Tony- I seen you as both you were never afraid to get in the job with me. But as I made mistakes you calmly tell me what I did wrong and follow through with the proper ways complete the task. The side the made it hard was the times where you would hold in the anger to long. You could see it take a toll on you. After listening to this I finally decided to reach out to a present employee and ask her the same question.