Inside every event planner, producer and organizer is a control freak clawing to break free. It’s good to be decisive and super-organized, but you can go too far and do some serious damage to the event and your career. How do you know if you’re a control freak? Check out your personal Event Freak Out Index here.

It’s Tough Being You

You face a lot of pressure in single-handedly holding the world together and accepting the responsibility for every detail and mistake. You end up being the first person in and the last person out. Every event is an ordeal. Nothing is ever the way it should be. You are constantly overwhelmed because you are doing everyone’s job.

At first, you are proud. You are an unrepentant control freak as you pester, prod and irritate people. You enjoy being the Perfect Perfectionist. But later, the doubts creep in.

Well, there is hope for the hopelessly organized. There are things that can be done for the obsessive doer. Everything starts by discovering just how much of a control freak you are.

Event Freak Out Index

This quiz is not scientifically perfect but can give you some instant insight on your possible control freak tendencies. Answer each question by selecting the option that most accurately describes your feelings or behavior. Keep track of the number on your answers because you will need them later.

1. You prefer to text and email so you don’t have to talk to people.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

2. You’ve been known to dive under an event table with an extension cord while wearing an evening dress or tuxedo.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

3. During a meeting, you usually take detailed notes because someone needs to do it and you know your notes will be right.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

4. When the situation seems confused, you’re the one to jump in, take charge and give orders.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

5. For every event, you prepare a detailed Excel spreadsheet to help you manage all of your other detailed Excel spreadsheets.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

6. You feel that you can plan an event or enjoy an event. You can’t do both.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

7. You carry a bubble level, tape measure, Pantone color chart, extension cord, double-stick tape, erasure, Sharpies, duct tape, super glue and a set of screwdrivers – to bed.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

8. You walk through a banquet and rotate the salad plates so all of the cherry tomatoes point to four o’clock.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

9. You believe that there are only two ways to do something. Your way and the wrong way.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

10. You don’t care what anyone else thinks – the projectors are always out of focus.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

11. It makes you angry and frustrated when things don’t start on time, someone makes you late, or events don’t go according to your plans.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

12. Your Starbucks order sounds like the instructions for a nuclear weapon. It includes precise specifications for flavors, temperature, and the ratio of coffee to steamed milk and foam.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

13. You’re confident that you can control any situation by screaming, “Calm down.”

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

14. There is nothing on earth that can’t be improved by a checklist and two days of careful preparation – including sex.

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

15. You can’t understand the expression, “Nobody’s perfect.”

1 Never

2 Sometimes

3 Always

Scoring

Add the numbers for your answers and check your Freakout Index.

15 – 25:  Who are you kidding? Admit it – you’ll go with the flow to get by. Anyone who is this relaxed and laid back isn’t working in the events and communications industry. (Or you are more than a little too medicated!) Your career will benefit if you step up more often.

26 – 35:  You have some moderate control issues, so it’s hard for you to let go and watch others handle a problem. You are open only to the ideas you think of yourself. The good news is the people around you have decided to let you live. Try delegating more and trusting people. You aren’t a raging control freak yet – but you are on the runway.

36 – 45:  You are a mess! Your teammates worry about you while they talk behind your back. Simply put, when you don’t have control – you freak. You try to change everyone around you because you know exactly how events work best: your way. You have only survived this long because of divine intervention, and He’s over you. What can you do to improve?

Controlling Your Inner Freak

Let me emphasize this important fact.

“Every successful event planner, producer and organizer is a control freak. They just know how to control it.”

Instead of turning the freak loose to hurt people and destroy the event – control it. Channel all that drive and energy to make the event better. Like so many personality issues, the first step is accepting responsibility for who you are and how you act. It’s time to realize:

1. Every event isn’t a contest.

No one is evaluating you and your skills every second. They aren’t keeping score. Being a team player is a good thing. Surround yourself with exceptional people and then collaborate instead of control. You don’t need to have answers for everything. It’s okay if other people have better answers and solutions. Look for ways to be flexible and adaptable.

2. Fear is a dangerous motivator.

Deep down inside, all control freaks are afraid. That’s why “No” is the instant answer. Don’t let fear make decisions for you. Have the courage to say, “Yes” and “Do it the way you think is best.” Would you rather succeed out of confidence or fear?

3. Allow other people to succeed.

You look your best when you help the people around you to succeed. That means explaining and asking more – and commanding less. Write at the top of your To Do list: “More listening and less talking.” Encourage your colleagues to share ideas, ask questions and speak freely. Be committed to having real conversations where you talk with people and not to them.

4. Don’t push away the people you want to please and impress.

No one loves a control freak. The hard reality is that your clients, higher-ups and customers don’t like watching and waiting while you micromanage everything. Being curt, constantly agitated and abusive aren’t leadership qualities. Real leaders know when to step in and when to let go. Use your organization abilities to clearly define what needs to be done. Communicate pleasantly and fully. Then, get out of the way.

The Good News About Control Freaks

On the plus side, according to CBS News, control freaks are natural leaders.

They are results-oriented problem solvers.

They believe they’re special and have something to prove.

They have a compulsive need to get attention and be adored.

Global business is filled with them.

Can that be true? Leaders like Gates, Welch, Ellison and Jobs are renowned for their tolerant, easygoing natures.

The Road to Recovery

Here’s what I think: All control isn’t bad – and every decisive, directive organizer, planner and producer isn’t a hopeless, raging control freak. When all is said and done, someone has to be in charge and take the responsibility for making the final decisions. Successful events need solid leadership – not a maniacal dictator.

If you’re ready to admit that you don’t really enjoy running down the hall with your hair on fire, you’re almost there. Just repeat these three mantras.

The more you get out of the way, the stronger your team will become and the more successful your event will be.

You may not see yourself as a control freak, but if the people around you do – you are.

Don’t fix things. Resist the temptation to solve every problem. Share your ideas with your team, then delegate and encourage them to solve it.

Get Your Freak Out

And, just a note to the rest of the world: You can’t out-control a natural control freak. You can’t win playing the same game. Be careful when you’re absolutely sure that you are the only one who knows what other people need to do.

When you start feeling that way – STOP! Go back and take this quiz again. You may be dangerously creeping up the Event Freak Out Index.

Let’s spend 15 minutes talking about your next project or challenge. It’s a free consultation so we can get to know each other. Just click on CONTACT US or send an email to andy@ideagroupatlanta.com and get in touch.

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