As part of my MBA coursework many years ago, I took an organizational management class.  I don’t remember much from that class, but there is one concept that has stuck with me – locus of control.  Locus of control describes how individuals classify the causes of events that occur in their lives.  Those with an external locus of control generally believe the causes of these events is external to themselves.  Those with an internal locus of control believe the cause is internal.

For example, if a person were to lose their job, someone with an external locus of control might blame his or her boss (My boss never liked me.), coworkers (They never helped me.), or simply fate (Just my luck to lose my job!).  On the other hand, someone with an internal locus of control would likely blame themselves when faced with a job loss (I knew the expectations, and I didn’t meet them.  I just didn’t get the job done.).

When it comes to self-improvement, those with an internal locus of control stand a far better chance of making progress than those with an external locus.  After all, when it comes to change, who do you have, well, control over?  Can you make your boss like you?  Can you force coworkers to help you?  Can you change luck?  No.

But you do have influence over YOU.  If you recognize that you did not meet the expectations of the job, you can then ask questions that lead to improvement.  What expectations did I not meet?  Why did I not meet those expectations?  What changes can I make to meet those expectations in the future?

“Change cannot occur until you believe the outcomes in your life are the result of your own actions and choices.”

Those with an external locus can only depend on hope to improve their situation; “I hope my next boss likes me.”  Those with an internal locus, however, can take action; “I’m going to make sure I not only show up to work on time, but I’m going to show up fifteen minutes early every day.”  Change cannot occur until you believe the outcomes in your life are the result of your own actions and choices; until you adopt an internal locus of control.

How do you know if you have an internal or external locus of control?  The simplest way is to evaluate your own language and self-talk.  If you notice, the example sentences above related to someone with an external locus frequently use the word “me.”  “Me” is a pronoun that is used as a direct object, a grammatical form that actions happen to.  “Me” – an object, passive, helpless, under the control of someone or something else.

On the other hand, the example sentences above related to an internal locus use the pronoun “I.”  “I” is a subject pronoun; the person that performs the action described later in the predicate of a sentence.  “I” – the subject, takes action, in control.

When you talk about, or, more importantly, think about events in your life, do you find yourself using “me” or “I?”

Another way to find out whether you have an internal or external locus of control is to ask those close to you what they observe.  Would your significant other say you use “me” or “I” more frequently?  Would your best friend say that you take responsibility for the outcomes in your life or blame others?

Before you put that first 2024 resolution down on paper, resolve to first unlock the power of the internal locus of control.  Commit to taking responsibility for the outcomes in your life and then asking questions that will lead to improvement.