You Handle It

When your boss or manager tells you "You handle it" or "You take care of it" it doesn't mean "You do it." It means, you take charge and make sure it gets done. In fact, if you always take it to mean that you have to do everything yourself it'll make you look like a control freak.

I can already hear your retort, "If I do it myself I know it'll get done right and on my time schedule. I'm the one that's most familiar with it. I should be the one doing it. I'll get help on the next project. I can do this one."

I have news for you, if you use this thinking that "next project" will never come. You will keep operating independently and eventually you'll isolate yourself and alienate those around you. So friend, I advise that you put the control down and step away slowly.

I speak from personal experience. In college it looked like I did fine working in groups because I always got good grades. But the other side of that story was that my paralyzing fear that something would get done poorly or submitted late caused me to overstep my duties and take on additional work- essentially carrying every group I was ever in on my back. I did fine in groups all right- I took control and did the work while others sat back and were glad to have someone else do the hard work. More control for me, more drinking time for them. It was a win-win. But that doesn't work in the real world.

Here are some tips for my fellow control freaks to break the cycle of controlling:

1. Be realistic in your time availability- don't over-commit
2. Realize that you are not the best at doing everything- reach out to those that are experts in other areas for better efficency and greater sanity
3. Keep your cool- listen to ideas and opinions that you may not personally support or agree with
4. Trust- have faith that your company hired competent people (they hoired you didn't they?)

The more you can work with your peers and superiors in the company, the more you'll show that you do indeed have leadership potential.

Who else out there is a control-zilla?