If you are not controlling the shape of your own destiny, who is?  If not you, who should it be?  That is, does it make sense to follow and let others drive? Probably, sometimes.

No Simple Answer

The amount of control you influence over yourself and others is best balanced carefully.  Too much control can disaffect others and lead to bad results.

Exercising too little control over events that can directly affect you can likewise cause frustration, anger, sadness(for both you and others).  While, exercising just the right amount can help you achieve the personal destiny you seek.

Control and Leadership

Leaders exercise control through reliance on specific behavioural attributes like strong communication and self awareness skills.  Exercising control through micro or direct management skills is not always the most effective methodology.

Control is simply the exercise of power (whether earned or granted)  to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events.  Events such as your own personal destiny.

The exercise of power in inappropriate ways can backfire.  Leaders recognize a careful balance of technique is more likely to achieve the desired results.

Exercising control through power can be effective whether you have been granted power (like an army officer) or earned it through indirect facilitation and advice.

Judging a scenario (self awareness) is critical to assessing the optimal balance of technique and earned versus granted power when exercising control.

Next time you encounter a situation where your input (control) can influence positive outcomes, or you want to influence the outcome,  give some thought to the best approach before leaping into the fray.