One of the unexpected disadvantages to the evolution of leadership, from more autocratic, tyrannic, despotic and top-down during more nepotistic, plutocratic, violent times, to more democratic, empathetic, considerate and inclusive in the best of times, is the common tendency to mistake leaders for our friends.

The essence of leadership has not changed in the slightest. It is still about one thing, and one thing only: namely to turn a group of people into a high-performing team, enabling them to temporarily set aside their individualistic agendas and egos, to collaborate effectively toward a valuable common goal. The rest is details.

The same goes for employees. Though everybody appreciates being liked by their boss, even if such positive estimation is based on personal factors or reasons unrelated to one’s actual performance, most people enjoy being managed by someone fair, equitable and interested in being objective in their evaluation and treatment of others, even if that intent is sometimes inhibited by the inherent subjectivity and bias that characterizes human beings. 

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.