Control is the use of power to direct other peoples behaviour while leadership is taking the initiative to influence or change behaviour.  Often controling and leading practices can appear similar.

Whether practicing control or leadership, the ultimate result is the same, causing a change.  The difference of these behaviours is how you facilitate the arrival at the end result.

Most perceive direct and forceful controlling behaviours negatively.  It’s assumed there are selfish motivations behind these actions, and it makes it harder to buy in.

Leadership practices , to some extent put wrappers on the controlling behaviours, making them more appealing and easier to accept.

A Fine Line

The two labels, leader and dictator are often easy to distinguish at an emotional level, unfortunately this relization comes when it is too late to effect change.

While admittedly an extreme example, Adolph Hitler was considered a great and inspired leader by millions of people until it was too late to reverse the damage caused by his dictorial practices.

A Control Void

Whether created through leadership or dictorial behaviours an absense of control can be more harmful than tight and unpleasant contols.  Germany under the Weimar Republic is an example of this.

The economy of the country was shot, moral degradation was everywhere and a sense of hopelessness pervaded the nation.  Life was not good.

The return of strong control, (aka Hitler’s government) resolved a lot of these problems, for a tome anyway.

Practicing control through consultative leadership using earned pwoer is certainly perfered, However a does of the dictorial extreme is not always out of place.  (Hence the value of Donald Trump).