directedfocus

• I feel out of control
• I'd like to be in control
• I'm a real control freak
• How can I control this?

Control (noun or verb) is used in a variety of contexts to express "mastery" or "proficiency" or "dominance over something"

What’s the point of being in control?

For some it’s a sense of power or ego, for others it’s an attempt to attain security.

The key issue to realise is that the more control that you seek and seize, the less in control you become.

The agricultural sector of our business community is well aware of the concept of letting go, although many don’t see the power of this concept. And sadly, here in Australia, the rest of the community is beginning to learn about it as well.

Farmers have no control over the weather, if and when it rains, when a frost or an extreme heat event occurs at a critical time. Any or all of these events can have monumental outcomes for their business.

In the past irrigation was seen to be the panacea for overcoming the rain issue. And for a while it did and does, but then other things arise such as salinity. But still as many irrigators discover today rain is still the key issue.

As with many enterprises that are directly and indirectly connected with the nature, being in control or taking control isn’t what you need to do.

What am I looking to control?

The number of people who walk in the door, the number of people calling on the phone to order, the happiness of the customers experience, their use of your product or service, the number of items they buy, the number of times they return, the list goes on.

Why control this … for ego or security’s sake?

We have no control over the weather, the economic conditions, the political party in power, the number of customers who call or how much they spend, but we do have control over one important factor … our preparedness for and action to take as a response to any or all of these events.

Mastery is the key

Mastery implies intimate understanding, skillfulness and knowledge and the ability to work with not against.

Back to my opening comments about being out of control and seeking to control an activity or event. What is underlying all of these is that the person making the comments is not happy with the outcome they planned or wants a specific out come and hasn’t taken into consideration the full picture.

Controlling or seeking to control is not an antidote for lack of planning, of hoping things will just work out or convincing your self that “my business is different”.

What’s your strategy to overcome the need for control?

• Have you got a financial buffer to insulate yourself against a sudden change in your business market?
• Is your finger on the demographic pulse as the group/s your products or services relate to move into a different time in their lives?
• In focusing on price above all else, are you exposing your business to total destruction when cost pressures wipe out your minuscule margin?