Mind Traps - Part Four

Trapped by control.[i]

We like to be able to measure things. For some, if we can measure it, it feels more real. However, we can substitute what can be measured with what matters. We can’t measure feelings well, but they do matter.

We tend to believe we have more control that we do. Complexity is hard to gain ‘control’ over. Life, business, organizations are complex. People are complex.

We can constrain ourselves with a set of possibilities to those things we have ‘control’ over. This leaves us little room to expand, imagine, and create.

How can we counter being trapped by control? Ask these questions:

Question 1: What can I help enable? By asking this, you become open to new possibilities not just the ones we have control over. Asking others about gut feelings and ideas embraces the complexities and expands the potential.

Question 2: What could enable me? Do you ignore your emotions or try to push them away? You may be pushing away a tool that can help you achieve the desired results. Recall the fork on the Emotional Agility Path. Feelings are your cue.

Leaders need to be condition creators, not control mongers. Condition creators enable structured, safe environments for creative autonomy in service of the organization’s vision.

[i] Meet the Mindtraps, Berger, Jennifer Garvey