Take Back Control

Important: GDPR Email Preferences

As you may already know, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be coming into effect on 25th May 2018. We take your privacy seriously and we are working hard to ensure we comply with the new data protection laws. You can find out more about how we're doing this in our privacy policy on our website.

We want to make sure you continue to receive the latest newsletters, blogs, special offers and more.

As someone who has opted-in to receive our emails in the past, we’d like to give you this opportunity to confirm what you wish to receive:

Just so you know, if you don’t let us know what kinds of emails you want to receive from us, we’ll stop emailing you on the 24th May 2018 - you'll be missing out!

You are of course free to change your mind at any time – just follow the link at the bottom of any of our emails.

Take Back Control

It is an interesting fact that the ideas you have in your mind, affect what you see, how you feel, and how you respond to situations.

For example: Imagine a person commits a crime.

How would you explain that?

• If you believed in determinism, you would say, "He committed the crime because of his upbringing. His parents didn't bring him up properly or he fell-in with the wrong crowd. It wasn't really his fault. He should be helped, not punished."
• If you believed in personal responsibility, you would say, "He made his own choice, and he chose to do the wrong thing. He is responsible and he needs to be punished".
• If you believed in luck, you might say, "He was unlucky. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and events conspired against him to make him act that way. Maybe his luck will change."

Can you see that the same event will be seen and explained in different ways, depending on the belief you have?

Over the last three years, if you have not succeeded as well as you would have liked, how do you explain that?

Is it because of your parents, or your boss, or your friends, or God, or bad luck, or the government, or is it down to yourself?

How do you account for the way things are?

Responsibility = Control

It is important to remember that the ideas of Responsibility and Control go together, hand in hand.

• If you have no control over the events, then you cannot be held responsible.
• If you are responsible, then you have some control.

So when you are trying to figure out who is responsible for any lack of progress it may be a good thing to say to yourself.....

"I am responsible. I am responsible."

If you take responsibility, then you retain control.

If you don't take responsibility, then you give up control.

So be very cautious of blaming other people when things don't go well.

Don't blame the government. Don't blame your luck. Don't blame your friends. Don't blame your boss.

Take personal responsibility and say to yourself:

"I will take responsibility and I will make it change".

Quiz: Do You Have the Winner's Edge?

Take our Do You Have the Winner's Edge? questionnaire to discover to what degree you have the winner's edge.

Personal Development Training

Personal Development Training

In order to improve your performance, you may need to develop your personal and professional skills: meaning: skills of communication, planning, prioritisation, motivation and personal confidence. If you want to learn more, then click here for personal development training.

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years’ experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

Blogs by Email

Do you want to receive an email whenever we post a new blog? The blogs contain article 5-10 minutes long - ideal for reading during your coffee break!

Further Reading in General Development

• Front line management training
  Front Line Management Training Most managers are not front line managers. That is, most managers need ONLY manage the process: they are not asked to simultaneously: Deal with members of the public Do "the job" itself Manage the all the individuals in the working team...........as well as manage the process Other...
  Read Article >
• Don't you trust me?
  Handling difficult people: "Don't you trust me?" Last week a female delegate on my course asked me a good question relating to the issue of trust. She said, "Can I ask you a question related to trust? I don't know how to handle the situation when my daughter, or anyone else...
  Read Article >
• How to Tell Whether an Idea is True
  We act on ideas that we believe to be true. But how can we be sure that what we believe is actually correct?
  Read Article >
• How to Prevent Burnout at Work
  Working long and hard without support is a recipe for burnout. Find out how to recognise and prevent burnout in this article from training expert Chris Farmer.
  Read Article >
• I have made an amazing discovery
  Apply this discovery and you will be better able to persuade people to accept your proposal, buy your products, and accept your ideas.
  Read Article >

Looking for Personal Development Training?

If you're looking to develop your General Development Skills, you may find this Personal Development Training Course beneficial:

Open Training Course Pricing and Availability

Next Open Course Starts in 3 days, Manchester, places available Book Now >