Are You a Control Freak?

We’ve all heard the phrase, “If you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself.” But when that translates to an overstuffed schedule and a team you won’t even trust to set up your lunch meeting, something’s got to give: the tendency to be a control freak.

“When women fall into the ‘control freak’ category, they limit their ability to reach higher leadership levels,” Cheryl Cran, author of The Control Freak Revolution, tells PINK. “Strong leaders are able to get more done through people and are able to properly control their team, which builds morale and trust.”

“For the organization to accomplish goals quicker, you have to let go and be less in control,” says president and CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council Karen Kerrigan. She admits 

her control issues sometimes result in taking on too much of a project. “Sometimes, it’s just hard to let go,” Kerrigan adds.

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Being too controlling is lose-lose: leaving your employees resentful and you stressed out. Experts suggest admitting you have control issues, practicing empathy and communicating the issue with your team to loosen the grip.

The biggest benefit of less control may be watching your business grow. Though these tendencies may work in favor of start-up entrepreneurs, they can hinder expansion down the line.

“Communicate to your team your goal to delegate more and help them succeed,” says Cran, adding that rewarding those who come through for you will help build mutual trust. Most important? “Don’t take over if things aren’t being done exactly the way you would do it.”

Bonus PINK Link: Find out more about PINK’s Top Woman of the Week Karen Kerrigan, including how she ran the SBA Council while undergoing chemo, in our exclusive profile.

Minute Mentor: Mireille Guiliano, an international best-selling author, shares advice on not only recruiting employees but also retaining them.

By Caroline Cox

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.” Joseph Campbell