In my short career, I've had many bosses. I've had cordial relationships with them and have enjoyed working with them. But only one of these bosses could inspire me to reach beyond my given work role to achieve my potential. He is still the best leader I have known. I learnt a lot about leadership from him and would like to share some of the nuggets I learned from him.

What did he have that others did not? He inspired immense loyalty in his subordinates and others who worked with him. A former secretary of his, who I met a few days back, still says, "He is such a great boss. I would love to work for him again." This refrain is common among so many of his other colleagues and subordinates who once worked with him.

What inspires that kind of loyalty in others? And how did he learn it?

What are the things he did which moved him out of the realm of 'a Boss' to the realm of 'a Leader?' Was he born with it? Did he learn it? How did he earn the respect and loyalty of one and all from secretary to president; from buddy to boss? You only had to work with him once to know he was special. You might disagree with him, hate him sometimes, but you still had to look up to him in admiration and respect.

I do not have a precise answer but I do know some of the things he did. I hope these can help us all become better leaders.

It is awfully hard to get others to do what you want if you do not know what you want. If you manage a Customer Service Center, is your goal to have the lowest cost operation or to answer all calls in ninety seconds. The goal is not as important as knowing what it is.

You are not Smarter than everyone. Encourage people to think, innovate, and to be creative. Do not blindly accept what your subordinates come up with, but expect hem to come up with something appropriate. Assign them tasks and be willing to allow them to work on these independently.

Before starting a new challenge, always try to find out what others had tried that had succeeded or failed. Research the obstacles and opponents. Try and give yourself the best chance of winning by learning as much as you can at the beginning. Always learn and always think.

Push your people hard. Demand a lot of them. But no one should work harder than you. Be the first one in and the last one to leave. And work the whole time you are there. Know how to play, but also know how to separate that from the job.

Expect your subordinates to work as hard as you do and be committed to the goal as you you are. Do not , however, expect them to do as much or as well as you do. The key is to insist that they do as much, as well as they can.

Know everyone who works with you as an individual. Know their strengths and weaknesses, their aspirations, their fears. Take all the criticism that comes from outside the group, but let each of them take the praise for what they contributed.

Bragging about your achievements before your subordinates will not get you their respect. They'll applaud publicly and criticise privately. Carry humility on your shoulders if you want to become a leader.

Be honest and truthful. Be dependable. When you give your word, make sure you meet your commitment. Don't cheat. Don't try to find the easy way out of a sticky situation. Don't waffle on principles. Don't be inflexible, but lay down limits that you will simply not cross.

Today, many schools and management gurus claim to be able to churn out leaders by the dozens every year. But I don't think leaders are manufactured in classrooms and seminar workshops. They are born in the organisational throes and steeled by the heat at the workplace. Very few pass the litmus test. Most continue to remain bosses all their life. But that's the choice they made. You can be different. So don't merely be a Boss, Be a Leader! At least aspire to become one.