Power is useful when people can recognize it
Much as we’d like to give our subordinates everything they want, sometimes it really is just not possible. Like changing working hours, for instance: You may be powerful, but you’re not that powerful. Yet, how are you to convey that message to him without losing his respect? Easy: By never promising him anything. If you get into the habit of saying yes to every request, they’re going to come to expect that response, no matter what. Instead, say, “I’ll try,” even for the really easy stuff. You know you can get your subordinate a new PC, but there’s no need for him to know it. When he does get his new machine, he’ll like you very much for trying hard to get it for him. There might even be a glimmer of respect. But he didn’t really think you could do it -therein lies your ace.
As long as you keep him guessing about how powerful you really
are in the company,two great things will happen:
First, he won’t come running to you every time he needs something -his first course of action will be to try and figure it out himself. Second, he’s not going to campaign against you because he’s under the impression that you’re a nobody anyway. This makes it easier to work with him and vice versa. Power is useful when people can recognize it. But sometimes, it’s even more useful when they can’t.
