In Charge Or In Control
by Miki SaxonOne of the greatest mistakes that managers make is buying into the belief that being in charge means being in control.
Both views start before that first promotion and are influenced by how they are managed and their reaction to it.
As with kids who are raised by a compulsive neat nick, they typically grow up either emulating that trait or totally rebel and become slobs.
Being in charge means taking responsibility for the myriad of things needed to accomplish the goals assigned to their group. That includes the actual goals, acquisition of new talent, care, feeding and professional growth of the team, maintenance and improvement of the physical environment, culture and anything else that comes up.
Control leads down a different path—one geared to power, restriction, manipulation, domination and even oppression.
Yes, the managers you had before promotion influence you, but it is your MAP (mindset, attitude, philosophy™) that makes the choice of which road to follow—just because you work for Attila The Hun doesn’t mean you have to do it the same way.
And even if you did head down the control path that doesn’t mean you have to stay on it the rest of your days.
You can change; you can always change; like an alcoholic who chooses sobriety you can choose to go from controlling your team to being in charge of it.
If you do make that choice expect to find yourself working less and accomplishing more; having more fun and achieving greater personal satisfaction; having less turnover and receiving better reviews and being the manager for whom everyone wants to work.
Image credit: sundstrom on sxc.hu
