OA Quiz: Are You a Control Freak?

Do your friends and coworkers ever joke that your theme song should be Janet Jackson's, "Control?"Is your personal motto "my way or the highway?" Do you always have to be in the driver's seat, steering the direction of every project or task? Take this quiz to see whether or not you're a control freak.

Instructions:

Read each statement and select an answer that best describes what you would do in the situation. Although you may not find one that describes you perfectly, choose the one that works best.

1. You're appointed the head of your company's events committee. You:

A. Let the other committee members select the events for the year. After all, you don't want to seem like a dictator!

B. Meet with the other committee members to brainstorm about possible events, and then assign each member a task based upon the ideas generated.

C. Immediately spring into action and assign committee members tasks without asking for their input.

2. You're asked to collaborate with a coworker on a special project. When she suggests that you two meet in her office, you:

A. Accept and ask her if she needs you to bring anything to your meeting.

B. Agree, but tell her what materials you'll be bringing and ask her what she's planning on contributing.

C. Refuse. If you have to work with another person on a project, it will be on your turf - not theirs.

3. You're scheduled to meet with a client at noon. It's 12:15 p.m., and you still haven't heard from him. You:

A. Shrug it off. So what if he's running a little late? It's certainly not the end of the world.

B. Leave a message with his assistant, asking him to call you back immediately.

C. Call his assistant every five minutes and demand to know his whereabouts. Like you always say: Time is money!

4. You have to leave work early for a doctor's appointment. Your coworker catches wind of this fact and asks you if she can use your computer while you're gone. You:

A. Give her your consent and tell her that your computer is her computer.

B. Allow her to use it, but politely ask her to refrain from opening certain files.

C. Tentatively agree to let her use it - as long as she complies with your page-long list of rules and regulations.

5. Your coworker asks you to go out to lunch with her. You:

A. Accept her invitation and let her pick the time and place.

B. Ask her what restaurants she has in mind. If she doesn't have any preferences, you can provide several suggestions.

C. Insist on driving and picking the restaurant.

6. You're scheduled to go on vacation for two weeks. Your boss tells you to enjoy your trip, but to occasionally check back with the office. You:

A. Check e-mail once or twice, but refuse to respond to it. After all, the world doesn't stop operating when you go on vacation!

B. Call the office once a week and check and respond to e-mail every night before bed.

C. Call the office at least twice a day and keep your BlackBerry on you at all times.

Count the number of "A's," "B's" and "C's" on your list.

If mostly "A's" appeared on your list: Well, the good news is that you're not a control freak. However, the bad news? You don't seem to care about anything! Bear in mind: If you want your coworkers and managers to consider you a consummate professional, then you need to uphold an image that conveys this. Need help powering up your attitude and becoming a star achiever? Don't miss out on career expert Joan Burge's fantastic advice.

If mostly "B's" appeared on your list: Congratulations! You successfully walk the line between "laissez-faire" and control freak. Although you're certainly not afraid to speak your mind, you make sure that you do it in a way that's considered appropriate. Keep up the good work!

If mostly "C's" appeared on your list: It's time to face the facts: You're a control freak. You always have to run the show and will only do things that are convenient for you. But, have you ever considered that your controlling nature could potentially jeopardize your career? For five easy ways to stop the vicious cycle of control, click here.