How to Tell If You Are A Control Freak

One of the most frightening things a person can experience in life is to be out of control. It's part of our nature to take charge, direct and have power over things, situations and people. It's perfectly normal to want to be in control of your life. But when that control extends to imposing your will upon and dominating everyone else around you as well, then you are out of control! Some of us have a higher need to control than others. Unfortunately, when this need becomes excessive, we turn into control freaks…you know…those people who insist on having their way and being in charge of every situation. What about you? Are you a control freak? Read these 10 statements and honestly evaluate whether or not they describe you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Willingness to face the truth about yourself
• Time to think and reflect

1. You insist on running the show and calling all the shots.

2. You are skilled at manipulation and intimidation, and work extremely hard to keep everyone and everything around you in check.

3. Wise in your own eyes, you believe that your wisdom and advice is far better than that of everyone else you meet, and you're always prepared to dispense it freely.

4. Only your input is valid. You enjoy expressing your opinion in conversations and meetings, but hate it when other people follow suit.

5. You discourage the input and feedback of others, and feel threatened by it.

6. You are obsessed with everything you do and constantly evaluate, analyze, review and re-check to the point of paralysis.

7. In order for things to be done right, you must do it yourself. You are convinced no one else can live up to your extremely high standards or do things properly when left alone.

8. Stress is your red badge of courage. You don’t eat or sleep very well because of anxiety and worry that things may go wrong.

9. Instead of using your imagination to come up with creative solutions to problems, you spend more time daydreaming about the worst that could happen.

10. 
    Bosses & Orchards

    You run rough shod over everyone in your work unit, bullying them to do things exactly as you say.

Tips & Warnings

• How did you do? If you identify with every one of these descriptions, then it is most likely obvious to everyone (and now also to you) that you are a control freak. If you only matched with a few then, there is hope for you yet.
• Use the resources below to help manage your control freak tendencies.

Resources

• Energize your career and work life
• Let Go, You Don't Have to Be a Control Freak

[EnlightenedPen]

on 6/29/2008 whew...only a few of the steps apply to me..I thought I was going to get 10 out of 10! Great article.

[century4]

on 6/16/2008 I gave this article five stars!It is very informative and to the point. Excellent reading!