2 — The Control Fallacy

HR Dysfunction and Reform · 3:39

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Sarah needs approval just to order supplies
Three signatures for what should take five minutes time
The training mandate comes from corporate again
Teaching skills that no one uses, waste of oxygen
Tom's performance review fits the standard mold
But his creative work can't be controlled or sold

[Chorus]
Control fallacy, you're holding us back
Making people into risks upon a track
We're not machines that need your oversight
Autonomy breeds the spark that makes us bright
Control fallacy, let the people grow
Trust brings out the best that we can show

[Verse 2]
In the factory days when work was routine
Maybe oversight made the production line clean
But knowledge workers need a different way
Initiative and judgment save the day
Google found that safety beats control by far
Teams perform when they can be who they are

[Chorus]
Control fallacy, you're holding us back
Making people into risks upon a track
We're not machines that need your oversight
Autonomy breeds the spark that makes us bright
Control fallacy, let the people grow
Trust brings out the best that we can show

[Bridge]
Netflix, Valve, and Gore found the key
Less control means more productivity
Self-determination theory proves it's true
Competence and purpose see us through
Pink and Deci, Ryan too
Research shows what we must do

[Verse 3]
Surveillance kills the creative mind
Extrinsic pressure leaves potential behind
But psychological safety sets us free
Innovation flows naturally
When you treat us as agents not as risks
That's when magic truly exists

[Chorus]
Control fallacy, you're holding us back
Making people into risks upon a track
We're not machines that need your oversight
Autonomy breeds the spark that makes us bright
Control fallacy, let the people grow
Trust brings out the best that we can show

[Outro]
Break the chains of yesterday's design
Let human potential truly shine
Control fallacy, time to let it go
Trust the seeds and watch them grow

← 5 — Compensation Opacity | 2 — The Performance Management Failure →