Unveiling Locus of Control: Where Does a Sense of Capability and Effective Decision Making Originate?

Think about a personal success story or a failure you experienced. Take a moment to reflect on the factors that influenced the outcome. Why did you succeed? Why did you fail? Was it purely external circumstances, or did your actions and choices play a significant role? This introspection and your own answers to the questions presented brings us to the concept of locus of control — a fundamental aspect of human psychology that profoundly impacts our sense of capability, motivation, and decision-making abilities. In this article, we’ll delve into the depths of locus of control and after a light and short semi-psychological intro we’ll uncover how mastering it can unlock new levels of leadership effectiveness.

What is Locus of Control?

Locus of control, idea that originally developed by Julian B. Rotter in 1954, is an essential concept in personality psychology. It refers to the degree to which individuals believe they have control over the events and outcomes in their lives. It exists as a spectrum ranging from an external locus of control, where individuals attribute success or failure to external factors such as luck, fate, or innate characteristics like “stupidity,” to an internal locus of control, where individuals believe their actions and choices shape their destiny. For example, if a student fails a university test, someone with an external locus of control might think, “This teacher hates me, I never had a chance,” while someone with an internal locus of control might think, “I didn’t study hard enough. I should study differently next time.”

Different Edges of the Locus of Control Spectrum:

People with an external locus of control often attribute success to luck or favoritism, while those with an internal locus of control credit their achievements to hard work, perseverance or choices. This distinction is crucial because someone who believes luck caused their success is unlikely to make an effort to reproduce it, whereas someone who attributes success to hard work will feel encouraged to maintain their efforts. Similarly, in the face of failure, individuals with an external locus of control may blame external factors, such as a bad manager out to get them, while those with an internal locus of control view failures as opportunities for growth and learning.

Where Do We Want to Be on the Locus of Control Spectrum?

While both external and internal locus of control exist within us, research suggests that cultivating an internal locus of control yields significant benefits, especially for leaders. By embracing an internal locus of control, leaders acknowledge their ability to influence outcomes through their actions, decisions, and mindset. This perspective fosters a sense of empowerment, resilience, and accountability, laying the foundation for active and effective leadership. Furthermore, by educating their teams to embrace an internal locus of control, leaders can extend these gains to their team members as well.

What Locus of Control is Not:

Locus of control should not be misconstrued as dismissing external factors or denying the existence of circumstances beyond our control. It is about recognizing that, despite external circumstances, we still possess the ability to respond, adapt, and shape our own path. For example, a person practicing an internal locus of control mindset will not assume they can influence whether it will rain today, but they believe their actions can control whether they get wet by taking an umbrella or changing their route. Locus of control empowers us to focus on what we can control and take proactive steps to navigate challenges.

Why Should We Care as Leaders?

Now this is where it gets really interesting. What if I told you, that you can increase motivation, critical thinking and effective decision making within yourself and your team? The good news is that locus of control has a significant impact on those exactly. An external locus of control is essentially the believe that “things just happen to me”, this train of thought can cause individuals to feel overwhelmed, unsure of what to do, and lacking a sense of control over outcomes. On the other hand, an internal locus of control is believing “I make things happen”, so it can motivate individuals to work hard, think things through, and take responsibility for their actions because they believe it matters and influences the outcome. Let’s discuss this in more detail:

1. The Relationship with Motivation — Locus of control profoundly affects motivation. Individuals with an internal locus of control are more likely to take ownership of their goals, exhibit self-motivation, and persist in the face of obstacles. They believe that their efforts will lead to desired outcomes and therefore feel empowered to take initiative and drive their own success.
2. The Connection to Critical Thinking — Locus of control is closely intertwined with critical thinking skills. Individuals with an internal locus of control tend to engage in proactive problem-solving, objectively analyze situations, and seek multiple perspectives before making decisions. They understand the importance of personal responsibility and actively seek information to make informed choices.
3. The Influence on Effective Decision Making — People with an internal locus of control tend to make more effective decisions. They possess a strong belief in their ability to analyze situations, evaluate options, and take decisive action. Every good outcome is a boost of motivation for these people to make more decisions, and every bad outcome is a learning opportunity. This confidence enables them to navigate uncertainty, embrace calculated risks, and make choices aligned with their goals and values.

Sounds Great, But is Internal Locus of Control Really All Good?

While an internal locus of control offers numerous advantages, it is important to strike a balance. In certain situations, acknowledging external factors and seeking support or collaboration can be valuable. After all, there are certain things that are not worth the effort to try and control. Moreover, an unbalanced internal locus of control may cause individuals to be overly harsh on themselves when facing failures, constantly blaming their actions and feeling inadequate. Effective leaders recognize when to leverage their internal locus of control and when to tap into external resources for collective problem-solving and decision-making.

Leaders Can and Should Educate Their Teams on Locus of Control

Leaders play a crucial role in shaping the mindset and behaviors of their teams. By fostering an environment that encourages personal agency, accountability, and an internal locus of control, leaders can help their teams become more motivated and make better decisions. Leaders should advocate internal locus of control using every meeting, conversation or task as a learning opportunity — for example, at a daily meeting when a team member claims she failed to meet a deadline because another person didn’t replied to her e-mail on time, don’t let that slide, help her practice internal locus of control by asking her what she could have done in this situation to achieve a better outcome. By nurturing an internal locus of control within their teams, leaders empower individuals to take responsibility for their actions and outcomes, leading to increased effectiveness and success.