Here, it is commonly believed that command and submission are mutually exclusive styles of behavior. Those who command do not submit, and those who submit do not command. You often come across various psychological tests designed to determine whether you are a leader or a follower. It is thought that different personality types are required for leadership or submission. We all enjoy being leaders, and no one wants to submit. Commanding is seen as freedom, while submission is viewed as dependence. However, all of this is complete nonsense. Why?
What is command? Command is the act of issuing orders to subordinates and constantly monitoring their execution. Command implies complete irresponsibility on the part of subordinates. “You can’t rely on anyone,” “everyone is a jerk,” “you can’t trust anyone,” and so on. (Let’s set aside, for now, the comment that everyone thinks according to their own level of depravity. There’s more to it than that.) Not only does this generate constant stress, but it also serves as a great example of the difference between goals and actual circumstances. In such a situation, the commander is entirely dependent on their subordinates. They are not free, even though they strive for the opposite. They can’t even take a vacation. They stay at work longer than anyone else, have no time for anything, as they are busy checking what their subordinates are doing, correcting their mistakes (or, more amusingly, giving instructions on how to fix them), and relaying new orders.
Any commander perceives the irresponsibility of subordinates as an inevitable evil of their position, and it wouldn’t even occur to them in a nightmare to make their subordinates responsible. Firstly, they don’t believe it’s possible, and secondly, they simply don’t know how.
So, it turns out that in striving for command, we are actually striving for submission. Those who command and those who obey are essentially the same type of people, just as police officers and thieves are fundamentally alike. The commander is dependent, and therefore submissive.
To command is to obey.
Just look at the people walking their dogs on a leash, not trusting their dogs. It’s clear that the dog is leading the person, not the other way around.