In 1954, Julian Rotter developed the concept of locus of control. What do we believe about the events in our lives; is there primarily internal factors or external factors that create our life events. For example, did I fail that exam because I (internal) didn’t study enough or because the licensing board (external) made it too difficult? It’s a question to think about in our digital world.
If we have a high internal locus of control then we believe that one’s life is primarily comprised by one’s own actions. In a day and age where technology is advancing faster than our 2-year cell phone contracts can expire, what are we left to think?
External factors are surely steering the way of the future and at a rate that exceeds what anyone’s company bandwidth, and for that matter, budget can handle. Is that true? Because of company culture and technology have you been left in the dust? In your hard working, busier than busy schedule, can you be expected to have the latest and greatest technology for your company? What about not even the most recent but the best technology to run your business the best.
I would argue that the event of your company being overrun by the technology market is not external. I think that this is an internal factor. For example, I would say the reason you are still using Go-To-Meeting is you. Do you really want to be using Go-To-Meeting? Is it performing at a level and functionality that you need? Is it getting the whole job done for you?
This is your company, are you where you want to be with technology?
Let’s keep asking some questions to help evaluate where the locus of control lies:
- Is this your business?
- Are you a decision maker?
- Do you even know the price points for some of the things you dream about utilizing?
- Do you think the success of your business is derived from your own actions?
Will you really let external factors take the blame?
Wherever you land on the spectrum of locus of control I would ask that you come closer to the end where you have the control over what happens to your business. Come closer to where you work in a company where the innovation that you dream about is what you are utilizing. Whether you are under the impression that you are the one in control or not, the facts are that you are the one in control of where your company’s technology ends up. Ask yourself: is my technology where I want it to be? How can it get there?