Empowering People:

In his management classic Good to Great, Jim Collins defines the "right people" through his core principle: "First Who, Then What"—meaning you must get the right people on the bus before you figure out where to drive it. But it does not end there. The thought and action also must be right and disciplined.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, a great company needs all three. It is not enough to have one or two. Getting the right people into the bus is possibly the easiest of these. Having the discipline to release them to do the reason for their employment is where most organizations fail.

I was in a meeting the other day with a manager arguing on a position she has little to no experience on. She wanted her way, without evidence on why the alternatives will not work. It was about being the boss and pushing her way through. She is an example of a round peg in a square hole.

Organizations are bedevilled with such people who have risen into positions they lack the telemetry for. No wonder, it is said "People don't leave companies or jobs. They leave bosses." Everyone wants to be in a place where they are actualized, and their opinions and contributions are making a difference.

Are you enabling the persons working with and for you? Are you enabling yourself?

The Saint.