How to Gain More Control as a Leader: Let Go

As a manager, just how controlling are you? Many managers have a high need to control the environment and their team’s work. In fact, managers with the highest need for control are labeled micromanagers. Other managers lean in the opposite direction and give their team members so much control that they lose sight of either the goal or the results people are producing.

When we ask managers why they have such a high need to control their staff, controlling managers say they have a:

• Fear that staff will not complete the project correctly or exactly how the manager would prefer
• High need to know what is being done and when
• Need to ensure that the project is done on time
• Lack of trust in the team member to complete the project or complete the project correctly
• Fear that a negative outcome by the team member will be a poor reflection on the manager
• High need to make sure the rules, policies and traditions are followed
• Concern that the environment is changing too quickly to give up control

From the employees view point, here is the impact of micromanagement:

• Employees sit around and wait to be told what to do
• Employees are hesitant to make decisions without the blessing of the manager
• Employees do only what they are told to do
• Employees are disengaged
• Employees do not feel valued or recognized
• Employees feel blamed when things do not go right

Control is about making sure that a manager’s orders are carried out, exactly the way they are prescribed. The biggest problem with being controlling is that these managers are doing a disservice to both the direct reports and their company. And, the irony of control is that the fastest way to lose control of your team is by trying to maintain tight control of your team. Control limits potential, limits initiative and innovation, inhibits talent, and puts a governor on results. The manager is single handedly limiting growth of results, people and profits.

Truth be told, you cannot control anyone, even the people who report directly to you. Any parent will verify this fact. If a controlling leader wants to learn about letting go of control, the first step is admitting that you have an opportunity to become an even stronger leader, producing even greater results with a team that is highly motivated, by giving up control and power. Leadership has very little to do with control and everything to do with influence. Leaders may or may not have a title, but they always have a relationship where people want to follow them.

Great leaders are able to balance the fulcrum between maintaining control and letting go of control. Leadership is all about setting a compelling positive vision, clear goals, delegating authority, relinquishing control, trusting staff to let people do their job and then recognizing team members for producing great results.

You can tell a great leader by the talent they attract and the team that they build. Managers who spend time complaining about their team or individual team members seldom rise to the level of being called a great leader. So what characteristics do these great leaders have that allow them to give up control?

Positive Vision: They have a powerful positive vision of what they are creating for both their team and the organization.
Focused Strategically: They are focused on strategic actions and turning the vision into a reality and only spend limited time on minute operational details.

They Trust People: Trust is your most valuable asset. Great leaders delegate authority to enable team members to make decisions and get things done.

Recognize and Value People: When things go right, they pass along the recognition and success to those who are responsible.

Take Responsibility: When things do not go right, they take responsibility to ensure the problem gets corrected and doesn’t happen again.

Expect Growth: Great leaders expect team members to grow so they can add even more value to the team.

Accept Mistakes: Great leaders know that if they value innovation and continuous improvement, there are going to be mistakes. Congratulate people for trying something new, even if it didn’t work, and move on.

High Confidence and Self Esteem: Great leaders truly believe they can give up control because they know that if something does not go well, they have confidence to lead the team to success.

Genuinely Care: Great leaders genuinely care about the success of their team members, both personally and professionally, as well as the team as a whole.

To understand how to gain control and grow your influence, authority and respect as a leader, try letting go of control.