Your power comes from influence

The more talented your people are, the less top-down management works.

Work isn’t a dictatorship. We have free will. They can go work somewhere else.

Great talent won’t tolerate being managed through power over. They want you to see the full version of who they can become, sometimes before they see it themselves. And they need room to make mistakes, learn, and grow.

But don’t confuse freedom with a lack of accountability.

They too need feedback.

If you have someone amazing and they’re screwing up, are you going to tell them?

Or are you going to avoid the conversation because conflict makes you uncomfortable?

Are you going to save it for their 90-day review, while you silently watch them make the same mistake over and over, and your resentment builds?

While they’re oblivious, are you keeping score so that when you do finally sit down you unload a list of problems that sounds like old news.

That’s not management. That’s an ambush.

If you respect them, give them the feedback when it happens. Give them the chance to adjust while the problem is still small.

And while you’re at it, give them room to give you feedback too.

If you want to attract and keep great talent, remember that your power comes from influence, not control.

If you think someone should do what you say simply because you’re the boss, they’re not the right employee for you, and you’re not the right boss for them.

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