When Control Turns Into Fear: How Letting Go Builds Stronger Teams
Nov 12, 2025What if your need for control is the very thing holding your team back?
Most leaders don’t start out trying to control. They just want things to go well. But often, beneath control sits something deeper: fear.
Fear that if they let go, things will fall apart.
Fear that without their hand on the wheel, the team won’t stay on course.
It’s the same story we see in Toy Story.
At the beginning, Woody is confident and respected. But when Buzz Lightyear arrives, Woody’s fear of being replaced takes over. He tightens his grip. He micromanages. He loses trust.
It’s only when he finally lets go — when he learns to trust instead of control — that everything changes.
That’s the shift great leaders make.
Leadership isn’t about being liked or in charge. It’s about creating space for others to shine.
I’m seeing this change happen right now within a leadership team I’m coaching. When control softens into trust, creativity expands. When fear becomes awareness, people move again.
Much of my work with senior teams focuses on exactly this — helping leaders recognise where fear hides behind control, and guiding them to make the same transition Woody did:
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from control to confidence
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from safety through grip, to safety through trust
Because the moment you stop holding so tightly is often the moment your team finally starts to move.
If you’re a senior leader or part of a leadership team ready to move from control to trust — and unlock greater performance and connection — let’s start a conversation.
Ready to move from control to trust in your leadership? Book your free strategy session with Hooper Rees today and discover how emotional intelligence can unlock your team’s potential.