59 - Control

The final piece of the self-efficacy puzzle is Control.

As humans, we have a legitimate need to feel like we are in control of our environment.  Whether its, family, household, community, or work, we are at ease when we feel like things are under control.

Whenever anything happens to disrupt that feeling of control, we freak out.  Some people more vibrantly than others!

At work, many people are content to control their workspace and they don't worry about much of
anything else.

Leaders need to feel like they are in control as well, and so they often try to manage everything, including people.  I don't know about you, but I don't particularly like being managed - I prefer to be led by a caring leader.

The hard part is that we've built these work systems that reinforce every leader's attempt to keep things under control.  But organizations are complex systems, impossible to absolutely control, until you change your perspective on what control really is.

In the Army, the term "command and control" is steeped into everything we do.  While there are plenty of micromanaging control freak jerks in leadership positions, what we teach everyone is really focused on executing a mission.

To execute a military mission, leaders are forced to let go.  The terrain and the fluid situation require decentralized execution, so we train soldiers to take control of their piece of the terrain and act however the changing situation demands.

To maintain an overall feeling of control, commanders explain their intent for the mission (where we want to be at the end) and we train like hell, so everyone knows what they have to do. 

In other words, commanders share their vision, make pretty detailed plans and assign specific missions, then develop their people so they can trust that when they let go, people will do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission and achieve the vision.

Isn't that what you want for your organization?  The more you help people feel like they have control over what they do, the higher the self-efficacy and the higher their satisfaction.  Go make someone's day today!

Have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow.