Fourth Classic Tenet of Leadership

Leaders control students and staff (educational setting) or all employees
 
Merriam Webster’s definition of Control:
1: to exercise restraining or directing influence over
2: to have power over

This tenet of leadership is the hardest for me to think about. My initial reaction to the word control is that is goes against my understanding of leadership in my realm of influence. The classic thought of controlling students, staff or all employees brings to my mind an archaic system of lordship that could easily be misused by corrupt leaders. Breaking past this initial recoil is my challenge.

If I was an elementary teacher, I would embrace this tenet since I believe that teachers do need to keep control of their classroom. And children do need to be controlled until they develop their own internal controls. But my perspective is from an adult educator training other adults with advanced degrees. And while I have control in my classroom setting, I do not control the learners themselves. I guide them, I mentor them, and I partner with them to help them to their goals. 
 
I think perhaps I would agree more with this tenet if the focus is on leaders controlling themselves. A good leader would lead by example, so self-control would be a factor in their remaining in a position to be followed. This thought would follow one of the definitions of control which is “exercising a directing influence” on someone. If you have self-control and are leading by example, you may have influence on others to follow your example. If you do not have self-control, others will not follow you and you lead no one.