Our emerging workforce is not interested in command-and-control

The words of Irene Rosenfeld—“Our emerging workforce is not interested in command-and-control leadership. They don't want to do things because I said so; they want to do things because they want to do them.”—are a mirror held up to the changing spirit of the age. These words reveal a truth that has echoed through history: that the heart of a person cannot be ruled by the lash of authority forever. The soul longs not for orders barked in cold command, but for purpose, meaning, and the fire of self-chosen action. Rosenfeld, a leader in modern industry, spoke these words in the era of shifting workplaces, yet they belong to the eternal wisdom of leadership.

To speak of command-and-control leadership is to recall the old ways of kings and generals, who demanded obedience without question. Such methods forged armies and built empires, but they also bred resentment, fear, and stagnation. Obedience can produce motion, but rarely devotion. A workforce—or a people—that obeys without heart will do only what it must. But when individuals are moved by conviction, when they “want to do them,” as Rosenfeld says, then their actions are infused with energy, creativity, and loyalty. True leadership awakens the will, not merely the hand.

History offers us a tale of contrast in the story of two leaders: Xerxes of Persia and Alexander of Macedon. Xerxes commanded his armies through fear, driving them like cattle across the Hellespont. They obeyed, but their spirit faltered, and his empire crumbled. Alexander, though still a conqueror, inspired his soldiers differently—he marched beside them, shared their hardships, and convinced them that his vision was their own. His men followed him not because they were told, but because they desired to share in his dream. Here is the living proof of Rosenfeld’s words: the strongest armies and workforces are not those who march under compulsion, but those who march with willing hearts.

The emerging workforce Rosenfeld speaks of is not unique to her time; every new generation hungers for more than the obedience of the old. In the modern era, young people seek not only wages but meaning, not only positions but purpose. They want their work to reflect their values, their creativity, their sense of belonging. If denied this, they drift away, restless and dissatisfied. But when leaders listen, empower, and inspire, then the workplace becomes not a prison but a community, not a burden but a calling.

Thus, the lesson is clear: to lead well is not to rule with iron but to kindle fire. A leader must ask, not “How can I force obedience?” but “How can I inspire desire?” This requires responsive leadership, rooted in listening, empathy, and vision. It demands that leaders trust their people, grant them ownership, and allow them to see their labor as part of something greater. When this is done, people work not because they must, but because they will, and the results are far beyond what fear or force can achieve.

Let us also remember the example of Mahatma Gandhi, who did not command his people with weapons but inspired them with vision. Millions followed him in acts of nonviolent resistance not because they were ordered, but because they believed. They wove their own freedom with threads of conviction, proving that willing hearts accomplish what commands never can. In every age, this truth endures: compulsion is brittle, but inspiration is unbreakable.

So, O listener, what must you take from this teaching? Whether you lead a company, a classroom, a family, or even yourself, do not rely on the hollow words of “Because I said so.” Instead, strive to awaken the will, to speak to the heart, and to show the “why” that gives strength to the “how.” Encourage freedom, honor individuality, and kindle the flame of purpose in those around you. For as Rosenfeld declared, the workforce of the future—and indeed all people of spirit—will not be ruled by command alone, but will rise to greatness when they are led by inspiration, trust, and shared vision.

Thus, the quote is not only about the workplace; it is about the timeless art of leadership itself. To move men and women by force is fleeting, but to move them by choice is eternal. Lead, then, not as a tyrant of command, but as a guide who calls others into the joy of willing action. In this way, you will not only lead—they will follow with fire in their hearts.