Bosses are needed in these situations:
To respond quickly and decisively in emergencies
????In a crisis, when there's little time for full discussion, people will look to you for clear and decisive direction. You'll want to gather information quickly, identify alternatives, and then take decisive action.
To resolve disagreements that the group cannot address by itself
????There are situations when you must make a choice so the group can move forward. You'll have to explain the reasons for your decision, especially to those who preferred some other choice, but most people in these circumstances will prefer progress to impasse. This was the primary problem at the magazine.
Keeping the group true to its own standards
????You need to step in when something is pushing your group to violate one of its mutual values, whether it has to do with the quality of the group's work, sticking to a deadline, fairness, openness to opposing points of view, or recognizing the needs of other groups.
Maintaining goals and boundaries
????This is a core concept of management and leadership. Goals and strategies say, "Go here, not there." Budgets set limits. Policies, laws, regulations, and ethics create borders. And coming up with guidelines for specific tasks -- "don't go further than this" or "don't spend more than X dollars" -- shape the constraints to specific circumstances and individuals.
????Authority is a tool for defining a group's playing field and goal lines. While members should participate in setting these constraints, once they're set, people will expect you, the boss, to enforce them.
To keep the focus on what matters most
????Handing out arbitrary orders and directions rarely works well, but you can focus people on areas of concern. Suppose you fear customer service is deteriorating. Instead of imposing new procedures, have your staff talk to 10 customers each about service. Such assignments, along with asking questions, for example, can lead people to discover problems and priorities for themselves.
????These are not cases where it's merely okay to exercise authority. When they appear, you must use your authority to keep your group focused and productive.
