Law 11 of The 48 Laws of Power states that to maintain independence, you should make people dependent on you. The idea is that the more people rely on you, the more freedom you have. 

Here are some more details about Law 11:Appeal to need: Instead of appealing to people's love, you should appeal to their need for you. Love is a fickle emotion that can cause problems in the workplace, but need is more stable. 

Don't teach them everything: Never teach people enough so that they can do without you. 

Ultimate power: The ultimate power is the ability to get people to do what you want without forcing or hurting them. When people willingly grant you what you want, your power is untouchable.