Anymore, I make sure to pitch a good, healthy dose of yeast (for a somewhat high ABV lager, I use 3 small ladle scoops from the slurry for a 5 gallon batch - maybe a pint in total or 2 packets of dry yeast, 1 packet if it is a low gravity lager). That results in completed fermentation within 5 days or so (I use a Tilt hydrometer and note no further movement in gravity over 3 days), then after a 5 days to a week from brew day, I usually cold crash the beer. It is partially carbonated by spunding the last bit of fermentation (again, using the Tilt for rough reference of progress). I also usually ferment under 10-12 psi using a spunding valve (not a mandatory thing by any stretch).
A day or so after cold crashing, I rack and harvest and re-pitch the yeast (typically coordinated with a brewday).
Do I ever let it sit longer? Sure, especially if I am unable to rack on a timely basis. I don't sweat it any more - it's only beer and it is pretty hardy. Cheers and good luck with your lagers; they are worth the effort for me.