I was Secretary of Education in São Paulo city right after the educator Paulo Freire. He was secretary for 2 years and I was the assistant secretary. When Paulo Freire after 2 years did what he said he would that was to see other activities and travel more because he was getting older, and I took his place as secretary.

But when Freire was secretary, I was the assistant secretary. This means that Paulo Freire was my boss, but above everything, he was my leader, Paulo Freire was that much a leader compared to just a boss that even when he called me in his room to give me a scold, I was vibrant. Not happy, not joyful, not cheerful, but I was excited, do you know why?

Because I knew I'd leave the room better than when I had entered. A leader corrects, but doesn't offend, and guides, but doesn't humiliate. A leader corrects, but doesn't offend, and guides, but doesn't humiliate.

I insist: even when he called me in to reprimand I knew I'd still leave with vitality, why? Because I didn't only obeyed Paulo Freire I admired, I followed, I wanted to be inspired by the things he had done and said. I knew he was not infallible, as neither of us, as a matter of fact and he also knew that, and this is intelligence, he also knew he could fail, so he paid attention too.

The boss, he/she gives orders; the leader inspires, motivates. Is it possible for a boss to be a leader? Sure.

It's just training. Is it possible a leader to be named boss? Only in smart companies.

In smart companies or smart organizations, the one who has some leadership force, that makes more and better also takes leadership positions that others don't. The leader inspires you, but when he's only a boss, he expires you. If I'm only your boss instead of your leader, I'll call you in my room; someone comes to you and says, Look, Cortella's calling you.

. . You say: Oh, damn it.

. . Then you go to my office, knock on the door, I ask you to enter you enter, I say something and at the moment you leave, you close the door and if it'd be possible, you feel like doing, oh.

You don't do it because now there are cameras everywhere. But you keep looking, one day he will regret. .

Mario Sergio Cortella - O Bom Líder Inspira