The Power of the Other: The startling effect other people have on you, from the boardroom to the bedroom and beyond-and what to do about it

by Henry Cloud

Question: Who do you have who is like that? Who is both giving you support and input, as well as protecting your freedom and control? It might be time to have a conversation with a boss, friend, family member, board member, or someone. After all, what is empowerment if not the freedom to exercise self-control and freedom of choice and performance? Too many times, however, leaders think of empowerment as happy talk, as the quickest path toward getting people to do what they want. They forget that empowerment requires not just freedom to choose, but support from the leader even when times get tough and disagreements crop up. Putting support, real freedom, delegation, and choices all together is a tough challenge for any leader and for most kinds of relationships.