But why then does everyone in modern companies strive to liberate people, to involve them, to support them, to help them, rather than dominate, control, or use other coercive ways of leading their teams? The answer is quite simple: micro-management, task-based management, without vision, without involvement, without accountability, bears little fruit and is only suitable for mediocre companies. Mediocre? Those that are mediocre, and those that dominate their market through a monopoly or a dominant or privileged position, and that have no need to rethink themselves. Their collapse will be sudden.

The current focus is on a clarification – not necessarily simple – of the company’s purpose, its direction, and the framework it proposes, its clearly established rules. In this schema: a direction, a vision, a purpose, and a framework that defines the contours of what’s possible, everyone is then able to occupy their space, and to occupy space, to take space. The opposite of task-based management, of micromanagement, without visibility, which leaves only a thread, only a restricted space, without surprise, without innovation, without involvement.

Again in “The Mythical Man-Month” by Fred Brooks, it is said that a person can give, produce, offer, deliver, bring forth, use whatever verb you cherish, in a ratio between 1 to 10. Give x 1 or give x10. One can forget about budgets and deadlines with such a spectrum; better to focus on what allows people to be at x10 (and also to question the ability to remain at x10: allowing oneself cycles, slowdowns, rest phases, etc). I believe it, just as I believe that enthusiasm makes up a good part of competence. On this motivation, this involvement, I was able to summarize my thoughts here: modernity, agility, engaged. I increasingly believe that we should not so much concern ourselves with people as with the framework, not concern ourselves with directing energy, but with liberating it and letting it take the form it wants.

The problem with micromanagement is the narrow path it leaves to everyone.

By providing a framework, we liberate a space that everyone is able to seize and fill. Let yourself be surprised. Expand the possibilities.