Control Freaks Win: A Paradoxical Power Position

Want to listen to this week’s edition of Ultra Successful? Click here or scroll to the bottom of the post to tune in.

---

There is a common trait that I see in all high-performers I meet: 
They will not hesitate to dive into something that’s not working…and they will enter that area like a freight train. 

Can it be disruptive? Yes. Is it often poorly received? Also yes. 

It’s not that they do this all the time, but they understand that there are times when they have to really take over steering the ship to get them back on course—or reset it all together—and this is true for high-performing entrepreneurs, execs, and those who run companies of various stripes. 

Love this week’s edition of Ultra Successful? Don’t forget to tweet about it.

The difficult genius is someone who knows what they want and how they want it done—and they are not shy about becoming a micromanager when needed. 

Everyone I have worked with could be described this way from time to time. While they largely empower their teams to excel, they recognize that there are pivotal moments when their direct intervention is not just beneficial, but essential…and they have the courage to take control when circumstances demand it.  

While there are many leadership styles that you’ll read about in business books and articles, a theme at the top of many industries is that these difficult geniuses can sometimes be seen as “control freaks,” but this trait works for them. 

You can’t worry about stepping on a few toes, causing offense, or making others a little irritated—these are often required when it comes to running things that matter deeply to you. You can’t allow things to go off course or stray from your vision. 

If you consider yourself a bit of a control freak, come along for the ride—there are some things you’ll need to think about if you want to use this trait well. For those of you who fear being “too controlling,” this is a read that will make you rethink that position and learn how to balance it as you continue forward in your career or company. 

Let’s talk about why control freaks win, how to use it, and what to look out for.