“Today's world is complex and chaotic. It is harder than ever to exercise control through a chain of command. You cannot supervise everything yourself, you cannot keep your eye on everyone. Being seen as a dictator will do you harm but if you submit to complexity and let go of the chain of command, chaos will consume you. The solution is to operate through a kind of remote control. Hire deputies who share your vision but can think on their own, acting as you would in their place. Instead of wasting time negotiating with every difficult person, work on spreading a spirit of camaraderie and efficiency that becomes self policing. Streamline the organisation cutting out waste in staff in the irrelevant reports on your desk, in pointless meetings. The less attention you spend on petty details, the more time you will have for the larger picture for asserting your authority generally and indirectly. People will follow your lead without feeling bullied. That is ultimate control.”