Jelena Dincic
Are you annoyed that people keep calling you a control freak?
Don’t be!
I know that being a “control freak” is often seen as a negative trait, but sometimes, it can in fact be a good thing.
In this article, I’m gonna share with you 10 reasons why your strong desire to be in control can actually be a good thing with positive outcomes.
Here we go:
1) High standards
What’s wrong with having high standards?
Just because some people are happy to do the bare minimum and get mediocre results, doesn’t mean that you have to be.
So-called “control freaks” have high standards for themselves and the people around them and they’re constantly striving for excellence.
Not only do they push themselves to give 100%, but they also expect the same from others, especially the people they really care about. The problem is that a lot of people find that to be annoying.
Well, annoying or not, the fact remains that their high standards lead to positive outcomes and excellent results.
2) Proactive
Here’s the deal: if something needs to be done or if something needs to be fixed, you can count on control freaks to get it done.
They don’t just sit around complaining about a problem, they take action to find a solution.
That’s not a bad thing, now is it?
In fact, if you think about it, you’ll realize that some of the same people who call you a control freak when it doesn’t suit them, actually look to you when they need a solution.
Why? Because you’re proactive and you won’t stop until you get the job done.
3) Focus
And here’s another thing, control freaks know what their goals and objectives in life are and they’re usually highly focused on achieving them.
I actually find their ability to stay focused even during the most challenging times quite awe-inspiring. I mean, some people don’t even know what their goals are, while others give up at the first sign of trouble. But not control freaks.
All-in-all, if you ask me – focus and determination are pretty good character traits to have.
4) Attention to detail
Not everyone has the patience it takes to pay such close attention to detail. I actually have trouble with it myself. For example, I’m terrible at sawing things and I gave up on ironing my clothes years ago!
It turns out that part of being a control freak means paying attention to detail and this can actually be a good thing in certain situations.
Control freaks often see things other people don’t and that lets them catch mistakes and errors early.
In fact, whereas their attention to detail might be considered nit-picking by some, it’s actually a sought-after quality in fields that require precision and accuracy such as medicine, engineering, and science.
5) Excellent organizational skills
Look, some people like a little chaos in their lives. That’s fine.
But there are situations where organization is required, so who’s gonna step up? Who has the skills it takes to organize an office party, a group trip, or even the shooting schedule for a movie?
Certainly not the people who like chaos, who don’t have a calendar, and who don’t even know what’s where in their own homes.
That’s where control freaks come in handy right? They’re super organized and structured in their approach to tasks, which means they can be super efficient and productive.
See, it’s not all bad to be a control freak, is it?
6) Accountability
Did you know that control freaks make excellent project managers?
It makes sense if you consider all the points I’ve already mentioned – they have excellent organizational skills, they pay attention to detail, they’re proactive, they’re focused, and they have high standards!
What’s more, they take everything that they do seriously, they’re involved in each part of the process, and they make sure that everyone else is doing their part.
They know what needs to be done and how to get it done, plus, the fact that they need to be in control means that they have to get it done – failure is not an option.
In short: Control freaks are accountable for their actions which means they’re pretty trustworthy and reliable.
7) Attention to safety
I don’t care what people think, someone has to pay attention to safety protocols and ensure that they’re being followed, especially in high-risk situations!
A lot of the time that person is me, and that means that someone will mumble, “You’re such a control freak!” under their breath or they’ll say, “You’re no fun.” So be it. At least we’ll all stay alive, right?
8) Planning skills
When it comes to travel, I guess you could say I’m a bit of a control freak myself.
You see, my husband is totally cool with packing at the last minute and finding accommodation upon arrival, not me, heck, I’d rather stay home!
I need to plan and prepare, weeks even months in advance.
I mean there’s so much that needs to be planned – the destination, getting there, the accommodation, restaurants, museums, sights, getting around, etc.
I think of every little thing and do you know what?
It means that our trips are usually a big success!
We don’t get disappointed with terrible accommodation. We don’t get ripped off because we didn’t do our research. And, we don’t come back from our trip only to find out that we missed seeing some amazing places.
I have it covered, just like I’m sure you do!
9) Attention to quality
Whether it’s in a factory, a science lab, or even the kitchen of a restaurant, we need control freaks around because they’re sure to pay attention to quality.
They want to make sure that everything is done correctly and to the highest possible standard.
So, when it comes to quality control, being a control freak is an asset!
10) Perfectionism
Look, to be honest, being a perfectionist can be a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, trying to achieve perfection isn’t healthy and can lead not only to disappointment, but to feelings of failure and even depression.
On the other hand, perfectionism does have some benefits because it can lead to innovation in various areas of life as well as professional success.
Here’s the bottom line when it comes to being a control freak – it’s not always a bad thing, however, you need to be careful that it doesn’t get out of hand and negatively affect your relationships with other people or, as in the case of perfectionism, your own well-being.
