Imagine you are good at your job, but your boss micromanages everything you do and when you do it. You have no control over how you do your job. A lack of Control can make you feel like a cornered animal. When your control is threatened/decreased, you might feel psychologically unsafe and out of control. This loss of control can create threat response behaviors (i.e. arguing or insubordination).

Conversely, think about how it would feel to be able to decide how you do your job and set your own schedule. The perception of having control increases activity in the brain’s reward centers. Some behaviors that help to maximize the reward response include:

• Allowing someone to set up their workspace/environment.

• Giving someone the freedom to map out their goals.

• Creating clear roles and tasks for each participant to reduce conflict.

• Encouraging every member to participate and contribute to the larger group to increase ownership and accountability.