There’s a quiet understanding in every meaningful professional relationship, one that we often dance around. It’s that the employee or contractor being pursued often has all the power.
People want to make money and are drawn to simplicity and specificity. They are attracted to a defined point of view. When someone seeks a knowledge worker out, it’s often because they have encountered that specific point of view through their past work, public words, or reputation. The employer is asking to step into that world. They are buying into a particular ethos that has already been established.
This power manifests as the gentle authority to set the tone on the contractor’s side. It allows them to define the scope not as a people-pleaser, but as a guardian of the work’s integrity. It gives them the strength to say “no” to the ideas that dilute the project and “yes” to the ones that elevate it. It lets them establish the communication cadence that allows for deep thought, not just constant reactivity. This structure isn’t a barrier; it’s the container that makes brilliant, unanxious work possible.
When you realize this power rests with you, a beautiful thing happens: you become a better partner. You stop scrambling for approval and start guiding with confidence. Your calm certainty puts others at ease. Clients and bosses aren’t looking for a blank slate they have to micromanage; they’re looking for a guide who knows the territory. They are outsourcing their problem to someone who exerts competence. Your responsibility, therefore, is to wield that force wisely for their benefit.
So, if you want to work with someone skilled, know that you are entering a space they curate. This is their privilege and responsibility. They hold the power to protect (or waste!) your time, to uphold quality, and to ensure the journey is as remarkable as the destination. And from that position of strength they can commit fully, serve brilliantly, and build something you both proud of. Whether you’re the employee or the contractor, remember that talent is what matters!