Empower Leaders: Don't Control Them

by Jon Close

Jun 15, 2026

Leadership growth requires opportunity.

If leaders hold tightly to every decision, responsibility, or process, people never develop the confidence to lead.

Empowerment means intentionally transferring responsibility, authority, and trust so others can truly lead, not just execute tasks.

John C. Maxwell teaches at leaders multiply their influence by developing others-not by maintaining control.

Empowerment is not abandonment.

It is intentional development through responsibility.

This Week's Practice

Identify one responsibility you can delegate this week.

When you do:

Clarify expectations and decision boundaries.
Provide support without taking control back.
Allow ownership of both the process and the outcome.

Leadership confidence grows through experience.

DISC Insight - Empowering each style

D - Dominance

Provide them with opportunities to lead initiatives and make decisions.

I - Inspiring

Encourage them to lead communication and collaboration.

S - Support

Invite them to mentor or support others on the team.

C- Cautious

Empower them to improve systems or processes.

Bottom Line:

Control builds followers. Empowerment builds leaders.

Choosing the Right Leadership Style

Effective leaders do not rely on one leadership style. They adjust their approach based on the competence and commitment of each person and each situation. Leadership expert Dr. Ken Blanchard's situational leadership model describes four (4) core styles: Directing - High direction, low support, best when someone is new to a task and needs clarity on what to do, how to do it, and what success l...

Guard Your Energy

Leadership isn't just about managing time—it's about managing energy.Most leaders—especially task-oriented leaders—default to pushing harder. The challenge is that fatigue erodes judgment, patience, and leadership presence long before results begin to suffer. As John C. Maxwell reminds us: " You can't five what you don't have." When your energy is depleted, your influence follows. This Week...

Listen Past the Task

Most leaders listen to respond. Strong leaders listen to understand. When leaders rush to solutions, they often miss the real issue. Listening beyond the task—into concerns, assumptions, and context—builds trust and improves execution. As author, speaker Jon Gordon reminds us, connection fuels performance. People don’t just want answers—they want to know they’ve been heard. Listening is not p...