Over the course of 3 years, our family rescued 37 animals, fostered them and got them adopted into great homes. One of my all-time favorites was a lab mix named Angel. And she was an angel! She was so sweet and loving, and she stayed right with you, no matter where you went.
We lived near a park, but in order to get there, we had to cross a very busy street. I always put a leash on Angel before walking over there, just to be safe. And frankly, it pissed her off. She would look up at me like “Dude. I got this. Why the hell are you putting a leash on me?”
Last week, a friend of mine quit her long-time job as a fundraiser for a high-powered non-profit. She ran the department that raised 8 million dollars in 2021. She quit, because the Executive Director insisted that my friend show up at 8 am and stay until 5. After working there for 9 1/2 years, my friend was justifiably insulted. She gave a 6 month notice to see if things would change. They didn’t, so she left.
I have heard story after story of details, just like this one. When you as the leader put leashes on employees who have consistently proven themselves, they will start looking for another job. Then, you lose a great employee, and you have to start over with someone new. What good does this do for anyone? My advice? Hire a lab that walks themselves, step back, and let them shine!
Power thought: Leashes work during training. They do not work for long-term, high-performing and trustworthy employees.