The Control Freak

This little bandit often has very high standards coupled with a need for speed. Do they trust other people to complete tasks on time and to their satisfaction?  Reader, you be the judge! 

Nobody does it better (to quote Carly Simon) and so they find it difficult to let things go.  

This “My Way or No Way” approach often means The Control Freak is still hanging on to part of their old job even though they were promoted a year ago.

The world of a Control Freak can sometimes be a lonely place, as they forge ahead alone, carrying the full burden of the project, from idea generation right through to implementation and evaluation.  Workplace relationships can be difficult, which probably doesn’t worry this bandit, who believes that the workplace is just that: a place for and of work and not somewhere for forming bonds or friendships.  To a certain extent, I agree, but there’s nothing wrong with a little human companionship and, dare I say it, some fun along the way.

I admire people with high standards, but those standards are tricky to maintain when the pressure is piling on. There comes a point when even the Control Freak will need some help; it’s impossible to take on every little task and hold on to every responsibility with each move up the ladder, so other people suddenly become important, but with few relationships it’s hard to know who to trust and fellow bandits haven’t necessarily been receiving the experience or development they need to be able to help out effectively.

Let’s hope the Control Freak reads this and realises it might be worth starting to involve others now before they need to rely on them.  Starting by delegating simple or small tasks will help to develop confidence in both parties and over time a relationship built on solid foundations of trust and respect will form.

Succession planning?

There’s nothing wrong with having high standards and if the Control Freak could only let go sometimes and delegate some tasks then it would give other people the opportunity to develop their skills.