The control freak's guide to getting things done

By Angela Bensemann

Hello my name is Angela and I'm a control freak.

It’s been 12 minutes since I last tried to get someone to do something the way I wanted it done.

I’d like to say I haven’t always been this way but then I’d be lying.  Proof on the cassette tape played at my 21st (yes I am showing my age) demonstrating my bossy controlling nature from a really young age.  In my defence – you try getting a 6 and an 8 year old to play perfect pitch on the recorder in tune to your singing.

I didn’t really earn my full control freak stripes until I started working. I still remember the first time someone called me a control freak and to be honest with you I was actually quite shocked.

 I was sitting down with the sweet young thing in our office – Tracy, asking her to organise the writing and design of a booklet we needed to produce.  I then proceeded to draw exactly how I wanted it and tell her exactly what should be in it.  I must have had a brief glimpse of self-realisation and said to her, “I’m not trying to tell you what to do.”  To which she replied, “no you’re just being a control freak.”

Wow, a control freak.  I tried the label on for size and couldn’t really fault it.  I know there are a lot of negative connotations about being a control freak.  Think bossy, pedantic, annoying etc. But I decided to work this new found trait to my advantage.

You see, a control freak knows how to get things done.  A normal control freak could be counter-productive.  However, I am a control freak with self-awareness – major plus.  I know I’m a control freak and I tell everyone that.
 
To make sure I am in complete control at work I have mastered managing my diary I:

•  itemise all activities for the day
•  number activities in priority order
•  tick them off as they are completed
•  anything not finished on the day gets carried over to the next day
•  diary in follow up calls and appointments to make sure things are done

And then I have my favourite phrases to follow up others to make sure they’re doing what I want them to do:

•  I’ll follow up with you next Monday to see how you’re getting on, because I’m a control freak
•  Because I’m a control freak can you copy me in on the email when you send that job off
•  As a control freak I just need to double check all your changes before you send it to the printers

Of course satisfying my control freak nature at work is a lot easier than at home where I seem to have little control over making the child and the husband do what I want when I want – they seem to have minds of their own!