Why does Anakin Skywalker turn bad? It sure seems like it's because he
didn't get a promotion. He really wanted that title, Jedi Master (and the
company car would have been nice).
But, you say, maybe Anakin wasn't ready for that promotion. Maybe he
was still too immature, too easily angered, too likely to furrow his brow
at the slightest provocation.
So why didn't his managers give him a clearly defined path to
promotion? Not a bunch of Jedi mumbo-jumbo about using the Force and examining his feelings, but a concrete list of job skills he needed to improve (Using time more wisely? Prioritizing better? Keeping the Jedi
break room cleaner? Thinking up better dialogue?)
The worst Jedi manager had to be Mace Windu, who, when things got
hairy, essentially told Anakin to just stay put, don't worry, and by the way, we don't need your help right now.
That's not the way help an employee feel empowered and invested in the
task at hand.
And it was disastrous for Yoda to tell a troubled Anakin to give up
that which was most important to him. That sounded suspiciously like
"Don't expect a raise any time soon."
Obi Wan Kenobi wasn't much better. A boss should know enough about an
employee's life to know what they're worried about. Obi Wan didn't
realize his apprentice was having a child (well, twins, actually) with Padme
until it was too late. Those sorts of personal issues worried Anakin to the
point of obsession, yet Obi Wan was mostly oblivious.
And sure, Palpatine appealed to Anakin's ego. But what smart boss
doesn't, from time to time? It's not enough to tell an employee that he's the chosen one, yada yada. Obi Wan should have realized that the constant "you've got more to learn, young apprentice" stuff gets old after a while.
If Obi Wan and the council had chosen Anakin for a few crucial solo
missions, maybe he would have been too focused on Jedi business to be
tempted by Palpatine's Sith pitch.
Still, Anakin must bear the responsibility for his eventual decision to
join the staff of Dark Side, Inc. He was seduced by a boss who promised
much, but actually withheld vital information that would have affected
Anakin's most important decisions.
Those kinds of bosses -- the ones to hold on to information and use it
like a weapon, all in an effort to manipulate employees into doing their
bidding are usually very articulate and seem like your buddy at first. They
seem like they're looking out for you.
Then, one day, you're cut off at the knees. Dependent on them for
everything. And have nowhere to turn, especially if your old bosses
kind of want you dead.
So the lessons for bosses and employees everywhere? Give your employees a stake in the enterprise, and if they want to move up, use constructive feedback to tell them how they can do so. Motivate their best qualities by giving incentives for good behavior, but be willing
to accept criticism when it's warranted.
And don't become the kind of boss who rules through fear, intimidation,
secrecy and appeals to greed and arrogance.
Unless you're really good with a lightsaber
