In one of my leadership seminars, a participant brought up the topic of Internal sabotage. Quite interesting discussion ensured. Let me ask you … does ‘internal sabotage’ mean internally to yourself? Or does it mean internally to your team?
This is another set of words that have different meanings depending on your perspective … or even depending on the time of day.
If you are feeling a bit vulnerable, internal may indicate thoughts that go on within yourself. Is your locus of control external – you believe your life is ruled by outside forces such as luck, destiny, your boss, your team members, in other words your future is dependent upon what happens to you and you have no control over? Or is your locus of control internal – you yourself control your future, how hard you work, the choices you make, what you spend your time and your money on – that you are the master of your fate?
Do you agree or disagree with these two statements:
- “Without the right breaks, one cannot be an effective leader”
- “Capable people who fail to become leaders have not taken advantage of their opportunities”*
Studies have shows that, to get things done, those leaders with an external locus of control used persuasion more often … and those with an internal locus of control depended upon their own personal power.
Do you sabotage yourself? Does your team sabotage you? Where is your control?
* Bass, B. (2008). The Bass Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research, & Managerial Applications. New York, NY: Free Press
