A: How is your new boss? I heard she just graduated from college.

B: Well, our previous boss always told us what to do. He kept people on a short leash. The new boss permitted many employees to make their own decisions.

Note: To “keep someone on a short leash” means to “have a lot of control over someone’s behavior and allow them very little freedom to do what they want.” The leash, often used on pets, keeps them from running away or getting into trouble. By analogy, if someone keeps other people on a leash, they keep them under control. The leash can be long or it can be short. And that corresponds with loose or tight control.