Control

Who’s in charge? Who’s in control of what goes on today, next week next year? The obvious answer would be you, but we all know that isn’t always true. We are challenged by people around us to take control and make decisions that will help you develop and improve – that is easy to say but it isn’t always possible.

Take the situation where someone is out of work, they may be taking control of looking for a new role, attending interviews and leveraging connections but at the end of the day that final job offer only comes from the right fit, which could take months to find. Many a coach or advisor has said we should treat customers as we would a partner in life, we have to win their affections in the first place and then consistently put effort in to nurture the relationship and keep it going. We are not in control of what goes on in their world, their changes in circumstances or personal drivers, but we are in control of how we respect and cultivate the relationship.

So what then are we in control of or should we be in control of. Business is an endurance sport, it’s not about quick wins, it’s not about never losing a proposal or out growing a client (or vice versa). Business is about being ready for and prepared for everything that comes across our radar – we can then make choices as to play or not to play. We are very much in control of our state of readiness!

Creating the situation where we can make our own decisions as to what we do or decide not to do is control. Manipulation of others to do our bidding is not control, it’s manipulation – the foundations here will not last. We are in charge of our preparation and our ability to make decisions as to what we do want to do.

Sadly, there are many in this world who have abdicated decision making to others, giving control to others that don’t necessarily deserve the right to be in charge. Think back to the subjugation of women, the children’s homes / borstals of the last century or the manipulative misinterpretation of religious scriptures in order to take control over others. We are in charge.

I live in the western world and am very pleased that personally I am able to take control of areas such as this in my life. However, I do know those who do not make decisions, avoid taking control of their own direction and success, for those people I raise a question, what has got to happen for you or to you in order for you to step up and take control? There is support out there for everyone in many guises, all we need do is ask for help and it will be there, no one should be isolated and unable to make decisions, we all need support we just need to ask for help and take control of our own lives!