Group Dynamics: Learning to Work With Control Freaks

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  gwhitted03/16/08 Report as spam
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  Dealing with Control Freaks

  I'm not an industrial psychologist, but I have some experience working with control freaks. Most of the time, your personal success will come in using your negotiating skills. Most control freaks don't really want to incorporate your ideas, but if you are assertive without being aggressive or punitive, people will generally listen. I found that much of the time I listened and just went along with the controller(s), but where my own particular interests were involved, I was demonstrative in representing myself and deliberate in accomplishing what needed to be done. This can work in the group if you negotiate your ideas into the mix.

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  JennaMiller03/17/08 Report as spam
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  Thanks for the suggestion!

  Thanks for your advice on dealing with control freaks. One of my group members advocates a similar approach -- we know the "control freaks" are much more invested in the grades they receive, so we often sit back and let them run with it. I actually found myself using this "pick your battles" method at our early morning meeting on Saturday, and it did help settle me down some -- at least as much as possible at 8 AM on a weekend when I could have been at home!
  
  Thanks for reading!
  Jenna