Are you a control freak?

Do the following statements describe someone you know?:

• You're proud of never taking vacation time
• You feel angry when others let you down
• If anyone asks how you're doing, you're always "swamped"
• People ask you a lot of questions because they're afraid of doing something wrong
• You actually believe that no one else can do what you do

These are just some of the characteristics described by leadership consultant Cheryl Cran in a recent interview with Entrepreneur magazine about letting go of your inner control freak. If you find any of the above descriptions eerily familiar, then you may need to address your attitude in managing those around you.

When I was working in the Big Four audit environment, you were the exception to the rule if you took all 5 weeks of your firm-issued vacation each year. Being perpetually swamped was a badge of honor, and many people refused to delegate minor tasks to staff or administrative professionals because they wanted to take credit for anything and everything possible in the hopes of getting a higher bonus.

According to Cran, author of The Control Freak Revolution, you ironically can't get out of being a control freak alone. Before you risk burning yourself out, you have to teach yourself to trust other people. Cran suggests you start by delegating basic tasks like scheduling, expense reports, and time sheets. If you're a senior associate and don't have access to a dedicated administrative professional, you need to focus your attention on training your staff well and giving them clear instructions, so that they are well equipped to execute the audit work you assign to them. You'll know you've done a good job at prepping them if they only come back to you with bigger issues they need help on. If they're constantly nagging you about small stuff and the basics of audit execution, they likely need better guidance before being sent back out in the field.

Many people at all levels of an organization think their work is just too important to entrust to others. But even the most powerful people in the world, from political leaders to corporate executives, could not be successful without the legions of trustworthy, well-trained people working behind the scenes to support them in their daily tasks. What makes you think you're more important than the president? Trusting others is the key, and when you invest the time to prepare your staff to understand your expectations and equip them with the skills and resources they need to execute your assignments, you'll find you have a lot more time to be the best at what you need to do.