Fearful Leaders Hoard Control – Courageous Leaders Give Power
Feeling powerful expands possibility, elevates engagement, and enables initiative. Feeling powerless creates weakness, dependence, and fear.
People who feel powerful see opportunity.
People who feel powerless feel threat.
Control freaks make others feel powerless.
Control freaks:
- Pretend to be helpful. In reality they’re pushing their own agenda.
- Believe others are the problem.
- Over-manage.
- Know there is only one right way to get things done. Theirs!
- Pretend to step back so others can step in. But when something “important” starts happening, they take over.
- Pretend to listen. But they already have their minds made up.
- View change as threat.
The smile of a control freak is arrogant sympathy in disguise. They feel sorry for all the lesser people.
How to make people feel powerful by giving control:
#1. Prepare people to feel powerful.
- How might you stretch and nudge, rather than shove?
- What training is appropriate?
- What experiences expand capacity?
- How might you build on past success?
#2. Describe the playing field.
- What values are in play?
- What does success look like?
- What’s out of bounds?
- How much decision-making power do others have?
- How often do you want to be kept in the loop?
- How does this project fit into the big picture?
- How much authority is being delegated?
#3. Honor expressions of power.
- Praise people who give input that differs from your approach.
- Thank people for taking action, even if it didn’t work out.
- Ask, “What are you learning?” Rather than telling people they screwed up.
- Ask, “What will you do next time?” when results disappoint.
More suggestions:
#1. Generate options. The more options you have, the safer the path forward seems.
#2. Give choice. After generating options, ask others to make choices.
Choice is an expression of power.
#3. Practice attunement.
Daniel Pink on attunement:
Courageous leaders give power to others. Fearful leaders hoard control.
How might leaders make others feel powerful?
How might leaders make others feel powerful? Delegating authority gives power to others, yet someone has to be accountable, so with power, comes accountability, be prepared for clashes as resentment can occur if all parties are not informed of the power decision process. Be open and clear in your decisions ex. “Bob’s been doing a great job” and we are going to make him the team leader! This way everyone understands the power and achievement factors involved with the decision.
Thanks Tim. An understanding of authority really helps. Delegate authority, even though you maintain ultimate responsibility. The leader has to answer for her/his own actions and the results of others.
Your addition of transparency regarding decisions seems essential. Thanks again
Power and leadership is like two sides of a coin, leadership on one side management on the other. They co-exist. Keeping people accountable is management – empowering them is leadership.Tim your comment about delegation is spot on – this is how leaders build new leaders. Thanks Dan for your valuable insights as always.
Thanks Carolyn. It’s useful to look at leadership and management as two different things. Yes they overlap. But as you indicate, there is a difference in focus.
I’ve had but only recently Considered the book, “Full Steam Ahead” by Blanchard and Stoner. Their thoughts and recommendations on developing a purposeful vision (individual or organization, personal or career) makes all the sense in the world to me. Specifically, for organizations, if developed by the organization, it provides all the right delegation of effort that makes Leadership impactful – never management related!!!
Thanks John. So glad you mentioned “Full Steam Ahead.” Love their work.
Also, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thanks. Hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving as well!!! What’s the temperature today in God’s little part of Pennsylvania? Roads clogged with hunters heading to camp I’m sure.
There was frost this morning. But it warmed nicely. It was beautiful for Central PA. Thanks for asking.