Leadership: Direction not control

One of the things I've learned raising children and am trying to apply to leadership is how to direct rather than control. By controlling you have two side effects. The first is you create opposition - people will directly argue and fight with you. The second is you can create followers, rather than leaders. People will believe they can't fight the system, give up with new ideas and just follow whatever is the current standard even if it is stupid.

You need to give people room, ask questions, and explain to them what is concerning you about the current situation. You may or may not be able to presuade them to change their course of action. Better yet, you may arrive at a compromise or something completely different.

The key is you are not in control, just trying to direct.