A511.4.3.RB_GowensBrianne_Locus of Control
Upon completing the Rotter’s Locus of Control Test, I calculated my score according to the instructions within the survey. I was expecting to receive either a low score (like 1-5) or a high score (like 18-23), but I fell right in the middle with my score of 11 out of 23 points. My initial reaction to the score of 11 was “oh no! I’m all over the map!” However, after researching the locus of control a bit further, I believe a score in the middle could be a good thing. I intentionally took the survey before studying the locus of control because I didn’t want to have any of the research influence the way I answered the questions. I believe this sequence of events is what led to a mixture of both internal and external locus behaviors.
The locus of control test allows leaders to understand whether they typically take responsibility for their mistakes or attribute their mistakes to outside forces (Vandegrift & Matusitz, 2011). A leader with an internal locus of control is more likely to take responsibility while a leader with an external locus of control places responsibility elsewhere (Vandegrift & Matusitz, 2011). The results of my survey tell me that I have an internal locus in some situations and an external locus in others. This is a positive outcome in my opinion because it aligns with Vandegrift & Matusitz’s (2011) theory that the balance of internal and external locus allows leaders to more easily adapt to different situations.
My locus of control certainly affects my leadership style, but it is effected differently depending on each leadership role. In the survey, I noticed that I took more direct responsibility when it came to topics like parenting and being student. When it came to topics like politics, I took much less responsibility for my own role. I struggled to answer a few of the questions because I didn’t agree with either statement. Some questions were a bit too black and white and I tended to search for a grey option. For example, in question 25 I had to chose between stating that I believe I have little influence over what happens to me or it is impossible for me to believe luck plays an important role in my life. In fact, I believe I have a lot of influence over what happens to me but I would never say that it’s impossible to believe that luck plays a role in things. Words like “impossible” and “never” make some of the questions so black and white, that I struggled to pick a side.
If I were to reflect on my personality type in general, I would have to admit that I am a bit of a control freak. I like to be able to control the outcome of situations as much as possible, which is why I also tend to be a big planner. I schedule my days and weeks well in advance by doing things like researching the weather and making “to do” lists. These types of actions lean towards someone who has an internal locus of control. According to Asidu-Appiah and Addai (2014), “individuals with an internal work locus of control are generally more satisfied with their jobs than individuals with an external work locus of control” (p. 43). I have found this to be true in my career based the jobs i’ve had over the past ten years. In order for me to make the biggest impact as a leader, I have to feel like it’s really possible for me to make a difference. When I feel that my actions will directly impact the success of the organization, I have greater job satisfaction and I work harder.
References
Asidu-Appiah, F., & Addai, H. (2014). An investigation into the casual relationship
between employees’ locus of control and contextual performance. Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the Kumasi Centre for
Collaborative Research, 21(1), 40-59.
Vandegrift, R. & Matusitz, J. (2011). Path-goal theory: A successful columbia records story, Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 21(4), 350-362. DOI: 10.1080/10911359.2011.555651
No comments:
Post a Comment