A company cannot function without clearly defined responsibilities. That is why there are owners, managers, executives, and employees. Roles create order and enable work to progress. The problem arises when we forget that behind every role there is a person.
The employee is no longer someone who thinks, proposes, and creates; they become merely an executor. The manager is no longer someone who bears the daily pressure between two sides; they become merely a middle manager. The owner is no longer someone who risks their capital, time, and peace of mind; they become merely a boss.
From that moment on, conversations grow poorer.
We no longer ask why someone has lost their energy. We don’t inquire what lies behind a mistake. We don’t seek the cause. We simply pass judgment.
Of course, humanity does not mean that responsibility ceases to exist. On the contrary, responsibility becomes even more important when we see a person as a human being rather than a number or a title on an org chart.
It is easier to demand results from someone whose dignity remains intact. In the end, a role defines responsibility. A person defines the approach. A title shows where they stand in the company. Their behavior shows what kind of company we have built.
From the manuscript of the book *The Philosophy of Entrepreneurship*.
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