113: The 2025 Leadership Paradox - Control vs. Empowerment

As we round out 2025, leaders are facing a series of "this-or-that" choices: Control vs. Empowerment, Stability vs. Agility, Automation vs. Humanity. Tammy J. Bond argues that the real superpower for 2026 isn't choosing one—it's holding the space for "Both-And." This episode explores why managers are "drowning" in complexity and how the "Yes, And" framework—Tammy's personal philosophy—can transform paralyzing tensions into opportunities for growth. Learn how to stop "reloading the dishwasher" for your team and start building a culture of trusted productivity.

The Leadership Tensions of 2025

• The Struggle is Real: The Center for Creative Leadership identifies the top tensions as juggling people vs. results and leading change vs. managing complexity.

• The Micromanagement Trap: With managers overseeing nearly 3x as many people as they did a few years ago, the default response to stress is often to "tighten the screws."

• The Cost of Control: Global engagement has slipped to 21%. When you seek more approval and create less autonomy, you create a "why bother?" culture that leads to quiet quitting.

Three Non-Negotiable Conversations for 2026

To bridge the gap between control and empowerment, initiate these three dialogues before the new year:

1. The Ownership Ask: "What decisions are you ready to own so I can step out of the way?" (Define the boundaries and metrics together).

2. The Mirror Moment: "Where am I over-controlling you?" Invite honest feedback and define actions to shift that control.

3. The AI Soul Search: "How will we use AI as a 'team member' without losing the soul of our company?" Co-create rules that keep the process human-centric.

Your Final Sandbox Challenge

Before 2025 ends, identify one thing you currently control that you can release to your team.

If you can't find one thing, ask yourself: Is this about risk, or is it my ego? Identifying your "rate-limiting step" is the first move toward becoming a "Both-And" leader.

Remember, empowerment doesn't need to be chaos. It's freedom inside a clear framework.