Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

Why You Don't Need Control

Last post we talked about the reality that Herb Kelleher never had control of Southwest Airlines (LUV), and didn't want it even if he could have taken it. We'll talk for several posts about the reason for giving up control is so important.

One of the keys to being able to give up control is to have a participatory business culture. With giving up control, it's not like we decide one day to do it and then just see what happens. No! What it means is that from the beginning we need to develop a place that demands and requires that people participate.

Concerning this Kelleher has stated: "If you create an environment where the people truly participate, you don't need control." When it comes right down to it, the more control you have, the less your people will participate, the less control you have the more they will. It's no more complicated than that.

If we don't start our companies that way though, or if the culture doesn't exist where it's been encouraged, we as managers will have to introduce it and help to guide things while it's being established.

Like Kelleher understood for a long time, we don't need to have control. The things that can be done by our workers, if they are let go, is far beyond anything we could do or see anyhow. While control may be an ego-gratifying temptation, it does nothing to truly grow a business.

Even when a sole proprietor gets to the place of either growing or controlling, many will refuse to increase their business load simply because it would demand giving up some control.

So why don't we need control? Because in the end of it all, control is really an illusion. Control makes you think you've got your arms wrapped around all the intricacies of the business. Control sounds good until the next problem arises. Then when the inevitable problem arises, the impulse is to create a rule or law that can stifle things even more as we try to cover all potential problems that can arise.

What did Kelleher have that many managers don't have? The insight and comprehension that in reality he never had control and never would be able to get it. so he just relaxed, rested, and had fun ... while he looked for places around the company to see if there was anything he could help with.

Other Herb Kelleher Sources:

Special Event

Leadership: The Essential Herb Kelleher

The CEO as Brand Guardian

Herb's way

Speeches and Presentations from Southwest Leaders

Southwest Airlines: The Hottest Thing in the Sky

Have Fun, Make Money

Remember to Sign up for my feed, bizzbite and digg this!