Jahnvi was promoted to the position where she had to unlock business results through employee engagement. As a first-time manager, she had her doubts, however, she felt that she would gracefully handle this immense responsibility. It was only a matter of time until she confronted a strenuous challenge and before she could realize it, she was juggling between tasks. She knew she had the grit to pull it through, however, she was falling behind in managing things. She took a step back and thought through it, and decided to ascertain what it takes to be a first-time manager.
So far, she has understood the requisites of becoming a first-time manager and started her journey on self-management. In the last article, she ventured into her values and found that she can contribute to the success of her team and organization when she will understand her values as an individual. Now, her thoughts were wandering to find ways to overcome her brand-new challenges at work. Her thoughts were swinging like a pendulum wondering why she was facing endless challenges. At times, she either felt paralyzed or energized, choiceless or determined. She had no idea where she was heading with such a perplexed mind.
She was researching her symptoms online, when she came across a term, a concept in psychology called “locus of control.” She was intrigued by the concept altogether, as it had something to do with beliefs and what influences our actions and the outcomes of those actions.
She decided to explore the concept and identify the locus of control that motivated her actions.
What Is The Locus Of Control?
Locus of control refers to an individual’s beliefs about the extent to which their life is controlled by their own actions, as opposed to external factors such as fate, luck, or the actions of others. The concept was first introduced by psychologist Julian B. Rotter in 1966 and is considered an essential aspect of personality and individual differences.
There are two types of locus of control: internal and external. Individuals with an internal locus of control believe that they are in control of their lives and that their actions determine their outcomes. They take personal responsibility for their successes and failures and feel that they have control over their destiny. On the other hand, individuals with an external locus of control believe that their lives are controlled by external factors such as luck, chance, or the actions of others. They may attribute their successes to external factors, such as favorable circumstances, and their failures to personal shortcomings.
Research has shown that an internal locus of control is associated with several positive outcomes, including higher self-esteem, greater academic and job performance, and better mental health. Conversely, an external locus of control has been linked to lower self-esteem, lower achievement, and increased risk for depression and anxiety.
It’s important to note that locus of control is a dynamic personality trait and can change over time and across situations. For example, someone who generally has an internal locus of control may temporarily adopt an external locus of control in response to a particularly challenging situation.
When Jahnvi discovered two types of locus of control, she wanted to find what drives her: the external locus of control and the internal locus of control. So, she looked into their characteristics.
Characteristics Of External And Internal Locus Of Control
How does a person with an external locus of control feel?
- Life is all about luck and chance. Some people are fortunate, while others are not. It’s completely arbitrary and up to chance.
- People have little influence over what happens in the world. We can all strive to achieve something, but in the end, things will turn out as they should.
- I have very little control over my own life. Instead, outside forces are in charge.
- Long-term goal setting isn’t worth it because events beyond my control can derail them. It is preferable to just go with the flow and see what happens.
- What happens to people has nothing to do with what they truly deserve. Good people who work their fingers to the bone do not always achieve success. However, all the big fortune goes to the wrongdoers. These situations have taught me well the learned helplessness.
How does a person with an internal locus of control feel?
- Working hard and exercising self-control allows me to accomplish anything I set out to do. I create my possibilities. It is pointless to wait for luck.
- Nobody has a predetermined fate. Even if this is true, it is always possible to change one’s fate by making the right decisions. In reality, we all control our fate. We can restart our lives whenever we want.
- At the end of the day, people usually get what they deserve. Our happiness is determined by our choices and actions. I am more likely to succeed if I work hard and treat others with kindness and respect. I am unlikely to succeed and be happy if I don’t put in the effort and respect others.
- I can succeed and excel at problem-solving if I put in the effort. It has nothing to do with chance or luck. Everything happens because someone did something.
- Because people are the way they are, the world is the way it is. If I want to change the world, I must first change myself. It’s completely up to me. I have the upper hand.
- Setting goals and creating a personal vision statement is essential so that my short-term actions can influence my long-term outcomes.
One thing Jahnvi was sure of was that she did not blame the external factors when thighs got dicey at her end, rather, she embarked on a journey to know herself better to manage her team efficaciously, and climb together to achieve their shared goals at work. However, she had to do a little brushing up to become her desired future self. She started finding ways to adjust her internal locus of control to become fluent in taking ownership of her actions.
Fine-Tune Your Locus Of Control
Your upbringing, cultural or religious background or life experiences may all have an impact on your locus of control. However, regardless of where you fall on the locus of control scale, there is no “right” or “wrong” stance. You can shift to a more internal position on the scale by taking control of how you react and adapt to your current circumstances, even if they are particularly difficult or are influenced by powerful external forces. David G. Jensen, a career expert, identifies five areas where you can internalize your locus of control. He refers to them as the “Cs of Control.” They are as follows:
1. Clock
You can’t stop time, but you can choose how you spend it. If you find it difficult to get everything done, make a concerted effort to better manage your time. For example, using prioritized To-Do Lists, minimizing distractions, and avoiding procrastination can all help.
2. Contacts
Create a strong network of contacts by seeking out people who can introduce you to new opportunities or assist you in achieving your goals and advancing your career. Develop contacts at work, join online professional forums and groups, and connect with or follow people who inspire you on social media.
3. Communication
Improve your communication abilities. This will allow you to present ideas more effectively, strengthen workplace relationships, and become more assertive.
4. Commitment
Always do what you say you’ll do, and if a project or request is outside your area of expertise, don’t be afraid to admit it. Remember that you have the option to say “No,” especially if people make unreasonable or excessive demands of you.
5. Causes
Choose carefully which issues to champion as a cause at work. There are only so many chances to “champion” a project or an idea. Establish an understanding that they are the correct ones.
While she was going on with her research, she also stumbled upon a piece of advice that said –
“Avoid going “overboard” in your efforts to strengthen your internal locus of control. If you do, you may discover that your natural instinct is to try to control everything, which can lead to anxiety and stress. Ultimately, no matter how hard you try, there will be some things you simply cannot change.”
You can fine-tune your locus of control to be more internal by realizing that your circumstances are not a “given” and that you have the ability to change them. You can accomplish this by taking charge of how you manage your time, network, communication, and work commitments and causes.
Once Jahnvi learned about fine-tuning her locus of control, she took a step further to do the same with her team, and how to bring the best out of her team with the internal locus of control.
How To Harness Your Internal Locus Of Control And Help Your Team Thrive?
Jahnvi knew that she was already oriented toward having an internal locus of control. It’s time for her to understand how impactful her locus of control can be to help her team thrive. It is her first step toward creating the outcomes she wants to see in her team. Harnessing her internal locus of control, or her perception of the extent to which she can control events in her life can help her lead a team to success. Here are some strategies she discovered in her journey:
1. Embrace personal accountability
Accept responsibility for your actions and decisions and encourage your team to do the same. This fosters a culture of accountability and helps build trust.
2. Encourage self-reflection
Encourage your team members to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how they impact their work. This helps increase self-awareness and can lead to personal growth.
3. Promote a growth mindset
Encourage your team to view challenges as opportunities for growth, rather than as obstacles. This helps foster resilience and helps people see failure as a learning experience.
4. Foster open communication
Encourage open, honest, and respectful communication within your team. This helps people feel heard and valued and can increase collaboration and innovation.
5. Lead by example
Set a positive example for your team by exhibiting the qualities and behaviors you expect from others. Your actions will speak louder than words and can inspire others to follow suit.
6. Provide meaningful feedback
Give regular, constructive feedback that helps people understand their strengths and areas for improvement. This can help increase motivation and encourage personal growth.
Jahnvi was looking forward to implementing these strategies to help cultivate a team culture that fosters a strong internal locus of control, which can lead to greater success, satisfaction, and personal growth for everyone involved. She agrees that understanding the locus of control is important for individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. She decided to become a torchbearer for her team to help herself and them achieve increased success in various aspects of life.
https://www.mindtools.com/ab74fx5/understanding-your-locus-of-control
https://www.science.org/content/article/locus-control-five-reminders-you-are-boss
https://www.betterup.com/blog/locus-of-control
https://hrdqstore.com/blogs/hrdq-blog/internal-locus-of-control#table-of-contents-10
https://www.betterworks.com/magazine/first-time-manager/
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Written By: Jimmy Jain
Edited By: Afreen Fatima
Society of Design Thinking Professionals
