To succeed in all spheres of life, you must have an internal locus of control. Internal locus of control is about taking responsibility for success and failure. External locus of control is all about blaming external events, forces, and factors for failures. Internal locus is about taking action and taking responsibility for the consequences. It is about making things happen and walking the talk. When you look at leaders, they possess an internal locus of control because they take responsibility for their actions. It is rightly said that bad tradesmen blame their tools, while good tradesmen avail themselves of what they have and work within the constraints to achieve the desired outcomes.
Internal Locus of Control
Individuals with an internal locus of control emphasize ideas and not issues. They strongly believe in exploring ideas against annoying issues. They believe in pluck, not luck. They take responsibility for their actions. They do not blame the external environment for their failures. They reconcile to the external environment and realign their strategies to accomplish their objectives. They believe in creating their destiny instead of leaving their fate to destiny. They are extraordinary achievers and history-makers. Here are some nuggets:
- Be independent – make decisions independently. Research enough, and gather the knowledge to approach the subject of your interest. Read or hear out the experiences of others who tried something similar. Now, think about the right approach for you.
- Stay self-motivated and achievement-oriented. Know where you want to reach. Take baby steps towards it. No big achievement occurs in a day. Break your goals into sub-goals. Approach one at a time. Feel happy when that is achieved. Move on to the next.
- Be troubleshooters and problem solvers – every life has problems. Instead of staying confined to “how could this happen”, graduate into “now what”. Be a solution-oriented person rather than a problem-oriented person.
- Be fearless—do not be scared to make tough decisions. Be ruthless in accepting your mistakes. Learn from them. But be fearless in trying something new. If there is something you do not like, it is crucial for the time. Either figure out the next best alternative or develop a taste for the tried-and-tested route. Develop the ability to simplify complex information to make it easier for yourself and your associates to comprehend.
- Be creative. Find out your way of solving things. Think critically and creatively. Do you want to do what everyone else does, or do you want to try something new? There is no problem with either. But know which path is yours.
- Be optimistic and confident – only you know what potential you have and what you want to do. If you are not optimistic about yourself, who else will be? Do not stop believing in yourself because others feel you are not the best. Promise yourself that you will prove them wrong.
- Be health-conscious—if your health is not good, your mind and energy will not support you. Focus on your health. Do not ignore your body’s complaints.
- Take responsibility – be responsible for your actions. It’s easy to blame others for things that may have gone wrong with you. But the truth is, only you are to be blamed for things you could not achieve.
Internals are inquisitive and ambitious individuals determined to create their destinies. They work hard and persevere to make things fall into place. Above all, they are leaders who take responsibility in case of failure and spread fame in case of success. Internals are optimistic and see light at the end of the tunnel. They see the silver lining over the dark cloud. They enjoy the rising sun, not the setting sun.
Although there are many advantages associated with internals, there are also certain problems involved. Australian psychologist James T. Neill outlines the dangers involved for individuals with an internal locus of control: Internals can be psychologically unhealthy and unstable. They can be self-obsessed. Internals appear to be arrogant. They often control a lot. They will have autocratic tendencies with an authoritarian leadership mindset. The people around them might not be comfortable working with them. That is why you should never lose touch with your family and loved ones. They will keep you grounded and remind you that others, too, exist in your life and that you have more than yourself to take care of.
Also, spend some quality time with your work associates so they know where you are coming from and relate to you. Tell the people who matter how much you love and value and need them. Though you sometimes don’t return the best and expected behavior, you do care for them. Such confessions will sort out a lot of ill feelings, if any. An internal orientation usually needs to be matched by competence, self-efficacy, and opportunity so that the person can successfully experience a sense of personal control and responsibility. Overly internal people who lack competence, efficacy, and opportunity can become neurotic, anxious, and depressed. In other words, interns need to have a realistic sense of their circle of influence to experience “success.”
Successful People versus Unsuccessful People
“Stand up for who you are. Respect yourself and ignite the divine sparks in you. Access your powers. Choose your rights and work together with others to bring blessings into their lives.” ― Amit Ray
All people undergo several challenges. The road is beset with tremendous doubt, fear, volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity, and struggles. Successful people respond proactively to their environment and align their strategies from time to time to accomplish their goals. They take continuous feedback to reconcile to the realities and realign their strategies accordingly. They pursue their journey with perseverance. In contrast, unsuccessful people blame the external environment react negatively, and finally give up their journey toward success. So, acquire an internal locus of control to make things happen, create your destiny, and grow as a leader.
