“I think the thing that gets my stress levels up the most is trying to manage situations that are really out of my control.”

This is precisely defined as Responsibility Without Authority. Unfortunately, in this imperfect world of ours, it is axiomatic that the two are intertwined and inseparable, from little things to world-class events. For instance: Your mum would not send you to the store for a loaf of bread without the coin to buy it. The coin is your Authority; returning with the bread is your Responsibility. (hers, actually. She has merely delegated a portion of her Authority for putting a meal on the table to you.) Res ipsa loquiter.

The Military understands this, and implements it. Military has awesome authority - they also have awesome, life-or-death Responsibilities that necessitate such Authority.

Unfortunately, civilian Management as a whole is for the most part ignorant and/or uncaring of the inseparable nature of Responsibility and Authority. Thus you have situations where Responsibility is euphemised as “Project”, “Goal”, “Target”, etc. All too often, without any thought at all given to the Authority required to accomplish the euphemised Responsibilities.

Thus you are stressed - for no good reason - except perhaps incompetent Management (and that is NOT a good reason!)

This does not solve your problem - but it perhaps more clearly defines it - which is one of the first steps toward solution.

One final note: Authority can be delegated; Responsibility, never. You cannot in good conscience blame the your failure to discharge responsibility on a subordinate to whom you have delegated a portion of your Authority and be done with it. It is YOUR Responsibility to accomplish that which you have been given the Authority to accomplish.

People far more brilliant than I have gone on at length on this subject, so I’ll end my remarks here. Hope I have given you something to ponder.

Regards,