I'm a boss. The pleasure comes from building an environment where creativity can flourish, releasing staff to their full potential, and watching the whole works blossom. There's a secret in giving that only the giver knows full well. The fruits that come back are well worth the effort.
By the way, sharing the knowledge, delegating, and training up the next generation is an endless job. I probably lose two thirds of my trainees as they move on to better positions. So you might ask, where do I get the payback? I get it back in reputation. The word whispered in the back rooms from one employee to the other is, "You're lucky you are working for JGnat. She's the best boss by far."
Is self government and self supervision something that we need to be protected from and called "anarchy" by the more powerful and more intelligent people?
Huh. I'd happily let my staff self-govern. I set things up that way every chance I get. It's those who think their leaders are somehow omnipotent or have some supernatural power who end up resentful. I can't fix everything.
One inspirational leader has said said, "I can't motivate people. I try and not demotivate them."
Also, I comfort myself with the 80/20 rule. That is, I am only able to satisfy 80% of my staff. There will always be a discontented 20% who will take up 80% of my time.
