While top officials reported to Hitler and followed his policies, they had considerable autonomy.[189] He expected officials to "work towards the Führer" – to take the initiative in promoting policies and actions in line with party goals and Hitler's wishes, without his involvement in day-to-day decision-making.[190] The government was a disorganised collection of factions led by the party elite, who struggled to amass power and gain the Führer's favour.[191] Hitler's leadership style was to give contradictory orders to his subordinates and to place them in positions where their duties and responsibilities overlapped.[192] In this way he fostered distrust, competition, and infighting among his subordinates to consolidate and maximise his own power.[193]