How To Annoy A Control Freak

In-Depth Tips to Outsmarting an Annoying Control Freak

We all know ane.

That detestable person who micromanages and treats you like you're completely incompetent. No i else is allowed to have ideas; your judgment isn't trusted, and your contributions aren't appreciated.

A control freak in the workplace is a totally toxic, confidence and happiness-killing lark no 1 needs.

But you can't change them.

In fact, trying to change a control freak -to make them respect you, appreciate you, or even just stop being such an overbearing nuisance in your life — will brand you crazy. Information technology'south an exercise in futility.

They're constantly going to exist disapproving of how you do things. Even if y'all try to do things their manner, you lot won't live up to a command freak's standards. And then, step one: take that you cannot change a control freak. What'south left to practice?

Outsmart them.

The control freak in your workplace is an enormous, immovable obstacle. You can't get rid of it, so y'all're going to have to larn to get around it. Hither'southward how.

i. Recognize when you're being worked over.

Patricia Evans, author of Controlling People: How to Recognize, Understand and Deal with People Who Endeavour to Control You, told BBC it's "crucial to listen for ways a controlling person tries to enter your mind and dictate your reality."

In her book, she demonstrated ways in which a control freak will become inside your head and throw you off your game. For instance, they might say, "Hither, I'll end the report. We all know formatting isn't your strong betoken."

"Nosotros?" You wonder. When did I screw up a study? Man, they were talking almost information technology? Who is WE anyway?

Finish. Command freaks love, love, love to become inside your head like this. Stop giving them the pleasure of succeeding.

2. Don't attempt to control a control freak.

Talk about paddling upstream… trying to affirm control over someone adamant to retain information technology is pointless.

In her 2011 volume Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life, Dr. Judith Orloff advises, "Be healthily assertive rather than controlling. Stay confident and refuse to play the victim. Near of import, always have a consequent, targeted approach."

Command freaks dearest a skilful power struggle; playing into it never ends well.

3. Perfect your "scratched record" technique.

If you feel like talking to the control freak in your life is like talking to a brick wall, it's not your imagination. They've already decided how things are going to become; you lot're just window dressing. UK counselor Barbara Baker says control freaks are master of arguing. Your ideas and opinions simply go lost in their clever rhetoric.

Don't accept the allurement.

Instead, she says, "Go on information technology simple. Utilise the 'scratched tape' technique: state and restate what you believe, feel or need."

Other ways you can outsmart the control freak in your life:

Try to understand what drives their controlling behavior — are they fearful of their own failure, or perhaps power hungry? You don't accept to have it, but knowing what motivates them tin help you lot figure out how to deal with each new aggression.
Go on a neutral gaze, expression and tone of vocalization when speaking with them. Don't permit your emotions get the best of you.
Make it articulate that you lot're committed to working with them, merely let them know your boundaries and that they're non-negotiable.

Finally, motility on if it's unbearable. Your life is too short and precious to alive miserably under the thumb of an unrepentant control freak. If you feel that your safety, security nobility, self-worth, health or happiness are threatened, yous need to seriously ask yourself if information technology's worth information technology.

Practise you work with a control freak? How exercise you cope? Share your comments beneath.