Leadership Styles : Leaving chairs, keeping rats

One of the most memorable lessons I learned from my first manager was during a team meeting when he used a powerful metaphor that has stayed with me ever since. He told us he wanted a team that was eager to learn and eventually replace him. I found this quite radical then because who ever gives up their chair!

He believed that no one should sit in the same chair forever, each of us should aspire to move up the ladder, take on new roles, and make room for the next in line.

His metaphor? He asked us to imagine “tying rats under your chair,” gnawing away at it daily. These “rats,” he explained, are like ambitious team members: they constantly remind you that your chair will one day break, and that you are responsible for preparing them to step into it when that day comes.

He encouraged us not to hoard knowledge or protect our positions out of fear. Instead, he emphasized the importance of sharing our expertise, guiding our teams, and equipping others with the skills needed to succeed, even if it meant they would eventually replace us. In his view, true leadership is not about safeguarding a title but creating a legacy through others’ growth.

Over the years I have met people who hug their chairs and swear to never let go, people guarding knowledge fearing they would cease being relevant if they ever shared what they knew and bosses who looked down on employees quitting for the reason they were not honored their dues. I have recently spoken with clients who tell me they feel their visibility and contributions go unnoticed, and their efforts are rarely recognized and it hurts to stay back in such workplaces where managers fear the success of team mates. 

These conversations reminded me of my own boss, who would come to me every morning and ask, “When will you break my chair and let me move up?”

This perspective has fundamentally shaped the way I view leadership and succession planning. We should all strive to leave our roles stronger than we found them, with teams ready and capable of taking on the challenges ahead. True leaders don’t block paths; they open doors. Let us be the kind of leaders who prepare others for success, celebrate their growth, and find satisfaction in seeing them reach new heights. 

I hope my manager is reading this.

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