While not always pracriced as explicit or overt behaviour, there is a basic human need for power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events.

The need for control is frequently either a contributing or the root cause of conflict.  Political behaviour is a classic example of contoling behaviour.

Politics is largely just a way of describing  a series of actions to get it done my way, or yours.  The priority objective becomes getting your way, the real goal can be secondary.

For Example

Many comment on US President Donald Trumps behaviours as unpredictable.  This often because the goals seems to shift endlessly and even become diameteically opposed from day to day.

Personnally I find them quite predictable when personal control is considered the prime objective.  Donald simply views his success as being based not on outcomes but others perceptions.

If changing a position or stance is needed for him to be percieved as the victor, no problem.  He will spin his position on dime as long as it enables him claim achievement.

Managing our Controlling Instincts

Not surprisingly the best outcomes arise from collaborative methods.  Members of high performing teams obviously exhibit a number of positive behavioural attributes.

The ability to manage their controlling instincts effectively is always the number one skill all high performing team members are able to use with ease, like breathing.

Without the burden of worrying about controlling the situation, versus focusing on all the stakeholders and most importantly success, high performing team members achieve high performance.