The Tipping List

Mastering the Art of Control

If done right, being a control freak can be a great thing for your career

-Suzanne Robitaille

Have you ever been called a micromanager (otherwise known as a control freak)? As bad as it sounds, being a control freak is complementary to your career and will help make you a leader in the long run. There are two kinds of control freaks: The psychotic kind who abuses her power because she herself is disorganized and insecure, and then there's the cool-as-a-cucumber kind, who knows that a tighter ship is better for everyone involved.

Here's how to be a control freak who everyone eventually comes to know and love:

1. Stay calm. Successful people have mastered the art of taking control in a smooth, positive way. They don't bark orders; rather, they communicate their thoughts, behaviors and actions in a clear fashion and stay on top of who is getting what done. They always have a vision, so everyone sees the big picture and knows where the reward lies.

2. Delegate. It's not possible to do it all yourself - though psycho control freaks have been known to work 20-hour days and on weekends in the name of glory. Rather, a good control freak has learned to teach others who work for them how to execute and to delegate to their team in an effective way. read more...