Control vs. Growth
Organization is a trait I admire. All organization that exists in my life exists out of sheer force on my part. It doesn’t come naturally to me. Other things do. Keeping things in neat bins is not one of those things. Still I love organization. I desire this gift. But, I’ll settle for the learned discipline.
With that said, I don’t want to confuse organization with control. I’m convinced some people are organized because they love to be in control. If everything is organized into its own little bin which satisfies some inner-urge to control 100% of life’s variables. This is unhealthy and it impinges on our ability to grow. As much as a lack of organization prohibits us from having the time or insight to capitalize on opportunities within our reach, too much control will limit our ability to develop, empower, and deploy others which is a necessary ingredient to growth.
So, I’d make the following suggestions for leaders who want to see growth but who are prohibited because of an unhealthy desire to control all of the variables in life:
- Understand that releasing control empowers others.
- Intentionally back off from time to time to see how people respond without you.
- Stop doing things others can be doing.
- Don’t manage the “how.” Evaluate the outcome.
- After releasing responsibility to someone else, don’t re-assume responsibility because you didn’t like the outcome on their first attempt.
- Do not permit inflexibility to have a foothold in your world or in the lives of people you lead.
- As you release responsibility, be there for people like a father would be there for his child learning to ride a bike. But, don’t become obsessed with holding on to the bike. If my dad tried to run down the street with me for safety now as a 34 year old man, we’d both look foolish.
- Teach people to do the same. If you’re a control freak. The people you work with will be as well. Empower your people and they’ll do the same.
- Finally, understand that by choosing not to control, you will experience waves of creativity and high productivity. But, things will not look like you would imagine them to look. This is a good thing.
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Trav:
Great post. How often this is overlooked by “great” leaders and not injected into those that are being mentored. I have spoken so many times on the what I entitled the Christian “C” word. I have also alluded in speaking engagements to “stop learning to program in “C” ” and move into a GUI method using Java. To unpack this is simple: The “C” word (control, obviously) should not be programed into the minds of everyone (activities and such along with tasks and events) but should be released in a descriptive method that can be easily seen. In other words describe what should be done. Sort of like point 4 above in your post. There is always a “control” in place in life. However, this is good for the purpose of helping the part become a great implement and participant to the whole. Placing the responsibility to organize on many releases ample gifts to those that are willing to learn and be creative. Anyway, the “C” word has amply caused detriment in the organization structure of the church and homes.
Jesus stated “how long must I be with you…. Greater things you will do…. (Dennis version)
Again nice post!
Best
Dennis
Good thoughts Trav. This is not just a thought Trav has posted only in theory. This is practiced by Pastor Trav and the staff at Life Pointe.
did you ask permission before you posted those internal critiques?!!?!?
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[...] Travis wrote a thought-provoking article on ‘Control Vs. Growth’. It’s all about o…. It made me feel self-conscious. I’m a self-admitted perfectionist - occasionally to the point of being anal-retentive about it. This personality defect of mine (that’s what it is) has been my downfall in life, but fortunately it is slowly fading away as I continue my venture on God’s fantastic journey for me. If you knew me 5 or 10 or 15 or 20 years ago and you compared me then with who I am today then you would totally concur with me. God is now in control of a whole bunch of stuff that I used to have a firm grip on. [...]
Wow, sounds like you are the kind of guy everybody would love to work for. I’m so jealous! God bless you. I am watching you guys, and I am very impressed! Kris