What does the word "control" mean to you? How does it makes you feel? For some it elicits feelings of responsibility, security, safety. For others it means power over others, micro-management to insure results, the last word. Some remember experiences with controlling parents or teachers they rebelled against. Others remember the insecurity they felt when their parents or teachers did not have any control.
For me, it brings mixed feelings. At one level are the feelings that living under a communist regime deeply carved inside me: absolute control over people’s lives, words, actions, work, education. That suffocating feeling that you can’t move without someone watching.
At another level are the liberating feelings that my choices, and the control I exert over myself give me. I can control my choices, therefore, I can control my life. If I don’t like something, I can change it. If I don’t like my surroundings, I can move. Yes, it brings responsibility, the responsibility over my choices. But it also brings freedom, the freedom to act.
In the field of leadership there is controversy regarding control. Depending on how you ask questions, you can get a rainbow of answers. Today I just want to make you think about the word "control" by asking some questions and letting you think of other questions and ponder at answers:
Some control is necessary, therefore,
- Should leaders have control of everything?
- Should they control people?
- Under what circumstances does control work or not work?
- How much is too much control?
- What is too little control?
- When and how can you let go of control?
- If you don’t take control, who does and how?
- Can your people control themselves?
- What should you control and what should you delegate?
- Is it ok for leaders to exert control at all? When, how, and why?
- What about control over yourself? What are you responsible for?
I would love to know what you think, so please share your thoughts with your fellow readers and myself.
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