Are you an internal or external personality?
People handle things differently. Aside from being born as a unique individual due to our DNA, we are also exposed to diverse environments and experiences which made us the way we are right now. Therefore, it is very usual to see a working place with variety of thoughts and reactions over a common scenario. It’s natural. We can never see someone who thinks and reacts exactly the same way as we do.
Knowing your locus of control will help you handle your own life in the most positive way possible. If you’re more of an external or internal, you can always improve so you’ll be in between, making the best decision for your own life. So here is how you can find out: are you internal or external?
Locus of Control
Locus of control is a very important aspect of one’s personality. It refers to where we believe the control of our lives came from. Consequently, it also defines how our behaviors and attitudes affect the outcomes of our lives. Locus of control can be internal or external.
Deliberate, then act
People with low agency experience common impediments when trying to make sound decisions. They may procrastinate, obsess over details, or worry excessively during the process; they may lack confidence and be risk-averse; or their thinking may be too fast and they act on impulse.
When making an important decision, like where to move or how to advance your career, it’s helpful to stop and deliberate first. Put yourself in an environment conducive to reflection and exploration, and make sure you have time and your emotions are calm. Then, focus on the issue at hand enough to clarify your primary objective and what is at stake. Asking open-ended questions and gathering pertinent facts also helps.
It’s good to generate lots of options at first, making sure that any strong emotions or biases aren’t driving your thoughts. Then, you can draft a plan for yourself based on those options, putting your thoughts and decisions into writing.
The plan should simplify your options and incorporate the most important facts. At this point, let your mind rest and allow any intuition to rise to the surface. Set your plan aside and come back a while later to reassess it, making changes as necessary.
Remember, taking action doesn’t require 100 percent certainty. Higher-agency people will start to act if they are 80 percent sure or more. So, don’t over-deliberate before acting. You can always reassess later if need be.
Having more agency means taking responsibility for your life. The next time you sense something happening around you—or within you—that doesn’t feel quite right, don’t ignore it and reflexively press on.
Exercise the discipline to stop, pay attention, and work on finding a better path for yourself. By practicing more agency, you’ll have more influence over your life and greater impact on the lives of others.
