LEADERSHIP WORKSHEET

EXERCISE: MEASURING YOUR LOCUS OF CONTROL

For each of the following 10 questions, indicate the extent to which you agree or
disagree using the following scale:

Strongly Disagree Slightly Neither agree Slightly Agree Strongly

Disagree Disagree nor disagree Agree Agree
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Score # Questions

1 When I get what I want, it's usually because I worked hard for it.

2 When I make plans, I am almost certain to make them work.

3 On an exam or in competition, I like to know how well I do relative to everyone else.

4 I can learn almost anything if I set my mind to it.

5 My major accomplishments are entirely due to my hard work and ability.

6 I prefer games involving some luck in preference to games requiring pure skill.

7 I usually don't set goals, because I have a hard time following through on them.

8 Competition discourages excellence.

9 Often people get ahead just by being lucky.

10 It's pointless to keep working on something that's too difficult for me.

Scoring:
For questions 1 to 5, reverse the scale
so that 1=7, 2=6, 3=5, 4, 5=3, 6=2,
7=1. Add the point values and enter the
results in Part 1 below.
Now add the point values for questions
6 to 10, and enter the result in Part 2
below. Sum both subtotals, and enter
your total score
Part 1 =_______
Part 2 =_______
Total: _______
Comments: Scores can range from a low 10 to a high 70. The
lower your score, the more you believe that you are generally
responsible for what happens to you. The higher the score the
more you tend to believe forces are beyond your control. More
specifically, a score of 1--30 indicates an internal locus of control
- you believe that you can control the events and happenings in
your life. A score of 50 to 70 indicates an external locus of
control - forces are beyond your control. That is, people, fate and
chance are responsible for what happens to you. Scores
between 31 and 49 can be interpreted based on which end of the
continuum you fall.
Return to the section of your text that discusses the difference
between internal and external locus of control personality factors
that managers need to be aware of for effective management of
their employees.

Research tends to suggest that people with a high internal locus of control may be better suited to own and operate a
business, as they are inclined to be less dependent on luck and fate, and will therefore be proactive in pursuing their
goals.

Source: Pamela Lewis, Goodman and Fandt, Management" Challenges in the 21 st Century, Thomson Learning, 2001:
490