Groundbreaking ideas and research for engaged leaders
Rotman Insights Hub | University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management Groundbreaking ideas and research for engaged leaders
Rotman Insights Hub | University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management

Embracing employee autonomy: Why leaders must give up the illusion of control

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David Zweig


COVID-19 changed everything, and companies need to catch up. Professor David Zweig explores how the old ways of managing teams — the belief that everything an employee does can be fully controlled and managed — will only lead to disillusionment and disengagement. In short, employees can't be controlled like thermostats. Leaders need to embrace employee autonomy and give up the illusion that they have control. 


David Zweig is a professor of organizational behaviour and HR management and past chair and graduate chair of the department of management at the University of Toronto Scarborough. He holds a cross-appointment to the organizational behaviour and HR management area at Rotman