My Locus of Control
Test Results

My Internal Control Profile

As someone with an Internal Locus of Control, I am inclined to believe that things don't usually just happen, but that I play my part in their coming about.

While there are forces that aren't completely under my control, I believe that I always have a choice about how to respond and deal with situations. I believe that my happiness and personal growth are my responsibility and no one else's.

I tend to see myself as "self-made." My life is the product of the decisions I've made and the actions I took (and didn't take) along the way.

As a result of these beliefs, I don't usually blame my problems and who I've become on outside factors such as my parents, my job, society, or fate. In my opinion, it's not what happens to me, but how I respond that counts.

« I am the architect of my own life. »

What I Do

Because I tend to look inward for solutions, I am probably no stranger to introspection. Charting my path in life is an independent activity that ultimately depends on my goals and beliefs. Personal empowerment, in my case, comes from owning my choices and decisions, working toward what I want, and seeing the effect of my work.

My faith in my own ability to dictate the direction of my life means I am probably strong-willed and perseverant. I'm open to self-improvement and personal development - maybe even reading self-help books or taking psychology tests in order to help myself grow.

I tend to be good at learning from my mistakes, and I am willing to take time to think about what I could have done differently. I am quick to identify sources of unhappiness or discomfort - whether internal or external - and see what I want to do about them.

I appreciate compliments and take them at face value, but I also take criticism seriously, as I realize that sometimes people can see aspects of me that I don't see in myself.

My pursuit of happiness and fulfillment doesn't mean I've always been successful. In fact, I may have gone through some very difficult times. However, I refuse to blame others for my suffering. My independence also prevents me from placing too much faith in others. When I seek advice, I aren't looking for someone to tell me what to do and how to think - just someone who can share their experience and opinions with me. My growth process is just that, my own, and my actions are likely to reflect that.

« I look for answers within myself. »

Potential Drawbacks of This Locus of Control

Though it has many benefits, an Internal Locus of Control can be taken too far and have serious drawbacks. Although it's true that no one controls my thoughts or behaviors, that doesn't mean I am immune to the effect other people and events have on me.

• Feelings of anxiousness and guilt when I feel as though I haven't made the personal progress I see as necessary.
• Insisting on trying to handle everything on my own, or even blaming myself for things beyond my control.
• Being convinced that absolutely anything is possible if I only try hard enough and then blaming myself for defeats that truly were beyond my control.
• I may feel detached and distant toward others because I think they can't help or be useful to me. Specifically, I believe they cannot help in my efforts to become the person I want to be or in my pursuit of fulfillment.

While it's good to confidently and proactively pursue goals that are important to me, it's also necessary to realize that not everything is in my control. It's important to accept the fact that change is rarely fast or easy. Feeling stuck, seeming to fail, or getting lost - while normal and inevitable - can be both devastating and demoralizing for someone with an Internal Locus of Control.

How to Be My Best Self

• If most of my goals are external, I should find internal benchmarks as well. Even if I am still far from having what I want in life, it doesn't mean that I aren't doing a good job working toward my goals.
• I should make sure not to neglect the people in my life, even if they seem extraneous to my goals. Knowing how to get help when I need it is part of taking care of myself.
• Be realistic about my accomplishments, traits, abilities, and personal characteristics, as well as my desires and inclinations.
• Personal change and growth take time, and the road is usually full of bumps, twists, and turns. I shouldn't lose hope if I can't see obvious progress for some time.

What This Means for Me

My Primary Social Locus of Control is the perspective that represents what I view as the most influential factor in affecting my thoughts, feelings, and actions. Since it represents the primary place where I view the control over my interpersonal relations to be located, my Primary Social Locus of Control exerts a major influence over the social domain of my life.

• I believe it is my responsibility to make new acquaintances, maintain old friendships, and have a generally fulfilling social life. When I am lonely, I take steps to relieve that feeling. If a relationship is faltering, I ask myself what I've done to contribute and what I can do to repair things.
• Ironically, my sense of personal empowerment over my social world leaves me more independent. This is because I don't rely on other people or wait for fate to intervene when there is something I want.
• I am less likely to slip into denial when things aren't going my way. I am often willing to take the first step, whether that means approaching someone at a bar or calling a friend I had a fight with and offering an apology.

My willingness to put myself out there means I've probably developed good social skills. But these aren't just superficial; I am also willing to look in the mirror when things aren't going well and ask myself what role I played and how I can do better. This means I am more likely to overcome conflicts and keep my relationships mutually fulfilling.

« I build my own social connections. »

Potential Drawbacks of My Locus of Control

However, I can also go overboard with this tendency, analyzing every interaction after the fact and agonizing over whether I said or did the right thing.

• If I take self-analyzing my interactions too far, I may alienate people I am trying to get closer to by appearing needy, self-conscious, or even narcissistic. This can be especially troublesome in the early stages of a new relationship.
• The tendency to obsess about my interactions can also have destructive effects when a relationship becomes troubled or even when it ends. If I assume that every rejection or argument is somehow my fault, I end up feeling guilt and regret for situations that were actually beyond my control.
• I may also extend a relationship far longer than is healthy because I can't recognize that no matter what I do, or how much I give, the other person will not change in the way that I need them to.

The fact is, I cannot control other people, and they may make choices for reasons I cannot even guess. There are certainly circumstances when a little initiative can save me from loneliness, isolation, and boredom. There can be other situations, however, when I simply may not be surrounded by people with whom I can connect or have fun.

How to Be My Best Self

While it's always good to play an active role in creating the social life I want for myself, it's important to remember that I can't control other people, and I aren't responsible for their actions.

• Keep in mind that while the way I act toward others can affect how they treat me, it doesn't always occur in the way I want. If I have done my best, and people still don't respond positively, the responsibility doesn't lie solely on my shoulders. I shouldn't beat myself up about it.
• Bear in mind that interpersonal relationships depend upon both people, not just one. And both people bring with them their habits, interests, goals, and desires, their fears, past experiences, baggage, and their overall view of themselves, others, and the world in general.
• A relationship is an interplay of many factors and is not static, but develops and changes over time depending on both people. I should try to be realistic about my ability to influence and guide it where I'd like it to go all by myself.

What This Means for Me

My Primary Professional Locus of Control is the perspective that represents what I view as the most influential factor in affecting my thoughts, feelings, and actions. Since it represents the primary place where I view the control over my professional life and career to be located, my Primary Professional Locus of Control exerts a major influence over this domain of my life.

• I feel responsible for my work outcomes - hitting my sales numbers, getting a positive performance review, earning a bonus when times are good, or keeping my job when the company is downsizing.
• Because I believe so strongly that my actions and decisions have powerful consequences on my work and career, I probably care deeply about the quality of my work. This makes me feel motivated to make plans and execute them meticulously.
• I may prefer to work alone since this allows maximum freedom, responsibility, and control. But that doesn't mean that I will shy away from collaboration.
• I take an active approach to things like looking for a job or seeking a promotion. I am always on the lookout for opportunities and really commit to achieving my goals.
• Confronted with an unsympathetic audience, or forced to work with a dysfunctional team, I don't simply accept that things won't work out - I redouble my efforts to overcome such obstacles.

As a result of these behaviors, I probably have a good reputation among my supervisors and coworkers. I accept responsibility and am open to critical feedback, which I use to improve my performance.

« I am the driver of my career. »

Potential Drawbacks

An Internal Locus of Control is great when I need motivation, but it can be difficult when I need to recover from disappointment. The fact is, despite my best efforts, there are always elements beyond my control. Anything from an economic downturn to a CEO's whim can derail a perfectly planned and executed effort.

• If I take too much responsibility for future outcomes, even though they don't entirely depend on me, I can drive myself to exhaustion trying to account for every eventuality.
• My feelings of responsibility for events in the past can lead me to judge myself too harshly, hurting my self-esteem and confidence.
• When I get in a situation where I don't have the means, abilities, or opportunity to attain my goal, I may become anxious, stressed, and even depressed because I tend to blame myself for not being good enough.
• An Internal Locus of Control can also affect my leadership. A manager needs to be able to give her subordinates some measure of responsibility; otherwise, they can't learn from their mistakes or receive credit for their achievements. And giving others that responsibility inherently means taking it away from myself - I can't hold myself accountable for everything my team does.
• Between negative self-judgment over perceived failures and a desire to control situations and people around me, an overly active Internal Locus of Control can be more harmful than beneficial.

How to Be My Best Self

Because my Locus of Control is such a profound part of my personality, it can be difficult to accept that it is not the only way of interpreting cause and effect in the workplace.

• Accept that I can't plan for every possible contingency.
• Don't let "perfect" be the enemy of "good." Sometimes, a flawed decision I can make immediately is better than the perfect plan I could come up with if I had more time.
• Try to have a realistic perspective about what is in my control, and what isn't. If things at work haven't turned out exactly the way I want them to, that doesn't mean it's all my fault!