Working in the corporate world, I quickly became demotivated when I was told what to do. It was as if I did not know my job, was not trusted, engaged, or empowered—all necessary elements of a high-performing team.

I challenged my boss one day when she came into my office telling me what I needed to do. Her instruction made me feel unimportant, I said.

“How should I manage you?” she asked in turn.

I suggested she try asking me and other team members instead of telling us; engaging us made us a more productive team.