To think not everyone’s cut out for leadership and that’s okay?

I get you. Yes - and I agree there’s a difference between a boss and a leader. Someone I know once told me that a true leader (who can also be. A good boss!) recognises that they’re not the best in the room. Will empower others and often earns respect. A boss (who is not a good leader) can expect respect and often will take all the credit. Cannot necessarily grow a team.

some people are naturally good at leading - but I see it more as guiding.

Usually by people who are totally devoid of skills and believe that The Apprentice demonstrates good management.

Personally, I refuse to go into management; I'm a developer, and I like building cool stuff. I would rather be at the top of my game as a dev, and I don't see becoming a manager as a step forward or upward. In most jobs, I just end up as an informal leader - the one that people (including managers) seek advice from. To me, that's a vastly better place to be.

Apart from anything...highly skilled people tend to have a lot of job security. Middle managers are largely expendable when it comes to cost-cutting time.

I think ‘boss energy’ is made up social media bullshit and shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

Who’s he, T1?

100 percent. Like our prime minister, hes no leader just wants to look after himself.

100%. I can sometimes execute leadership mainly due to sheer length of experience and the skills and knowledge I do have, but a full time leadership role is not for me and I think it’s good that I know that.

Agree entirely. I spent fifteen years in my last job, during which time I could have applied for progressively senior roles - but I didn't. By the time I left I was one of the two most experienced and longest-serving members of my department but I was still in a relatively junior position. I was asked many times why I'd never made Team Leader or Supervisor and I always answered that I was not a leader so I didn't apply for promotions. So many people equated experience with leadership without realising that one doesn't necessarily lead to another. There was also the fact that I really didn't need the extra aggro and hassle for not much more money! The bar has been lowered too; at one time it took about five years' service to be considered for a TL position. Now it is nearer three and not even with the full compliment of skills hitherto required.

Of course not everyone will be a leader in a work environment. But most people will step up at some time to lead a group in some context. A volunteer group, main organiser of a hen party, an extended family trip.

Absolutely right. I was in a leadership role and I fucking hated it. I was good at it but I hated it, it made me miserable, and I realised I just wasn't psychologically suited to being a leader.

Now I do a job I absolutely love where I'm in charge of no one but me and it's great. I have accepted that I'm not a natural leader and I'm comfortable with that.

Can you elaborate??