In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way.

The line frames effective leadership as primarily an act of selection and restraint. A “good boss” is not the person who micromanages or constantly demonstrates expertise, but the one who recruits capable collaborators and creates conditions in which they can do their best work. The second half—“getting out of their way”—emphasizes trust, autonomy, and the humility to let others shine. In creative and high-skill environments especially, Fey’s point suggests that management is less about control than about removing obstacles: clarifying goals, providing resources, and protecting a team from unnecessary interference. The quote also carries an implicit critique of insecure leadership that treats talent as a threat rather than an asset.