03-23-2026LEADERSHIP NOW

Our whole way of thinking about leadership is a century out of date

Here’s how to think instead.

Frederick Winslow Taylor [Photo Illustration: FC, Wiki Commons (source photo)]

Think about how we commonly seek to motivate human performance in our workplaces: Employees are treated as costs to be minimized rather than people to be invested in. Performance is managed through fear of consequences. Supervisors closely monitor daily tasks, requiring frequent check-ins or reports. Being available at all hours is treated as evidence of commitment. Directives flow one way—downward. Feedback is delivered as judgment rather than support. In practice, if not in intention, we still manage people more like machines........

© Fast Company