The author has been musing on how directors perceive their roles and choose their leadership style, particularly when changes are needed in their centers. In community-based ECE programs the author typically sees a preference for the idea of director as a facilitator, rather than a supervisor, and for shared leadership rather than a ship's captain. The author sees so many well-meaning early childhood directors who are exhausted to the bone, but can't get beyond crisis management or mediocre quality for children. Clearly, it isn't enough to have an inspiring vision or good intentions. Effective leaders steadily acquire skills and a mature staff eager to build a learning organization. They continually evaluate and put systems in place to manage each facet of the organization, including the growth of an intellectually vibrant and respectful program culture. With these keys in hand, a boss is not a four-letter word, but truly awesome!