Do you like someone who bosses you around? Do you respond best to someone who's idea of communication is a series of commands? Probably not -- and not surprisingly people on your team don't prefer that communication style, either. Yes, there are circumstances when leaders must communicate their urgency and certainty quickly and without any doubt. I was a volunteer fire fighter for many years and the fire ground is no place to call a meeting to talk things over. We appreciated a decisive no-nonsense captain who barked orders with precision and confidence. My guess is that most of your situations are not of the building-on-fire variety. High performance leaders spend time and conversation in planning, developing, and collaborating. The more a leader is able to collaborate with the team the more likely decisions will be supported and growth will continue. It feels faster to boss people around but the results don't last as long. Even that highly assertive fire departm...