Seth's Blog : "Because I said so"

“Because I said so”

This is the quickest and most direct way to manage. In the short run, compliance is predictable and might even be effective.

Over time, it’s always outdone by the generative and resilient alternative of, “because it’s the course that most effectively helps us achieve our shared objectives.” That opens the door to the brains and hearts of the community, and is also the way toward better.

Weak leaders (bosses, parents, captains and shift managers) resort to authority because they don’t trust themselves and their team enough to actually lead.