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Radical Self-Accountability

Radical Self-Accountability 

A close confidant and friend of mine Jade Jamie (personal communication, 2 October 2020) is a health and wellness coach. We recently discussed a concept she calls radical self-accountability. To Jade, everything is her own responsibility, even events that many would see as out of their control. If Jade cannot control the outcome of an event, she instead takes responsibility for the reaction she has to that event. Before radical self-accountability Jade found frustration and anxiety in life. She felt that others had control over her life and were responsible for her suffering. With this new outlook of self-accountability in life, Jade now sees that suffering, success, and everything in between is of her own doing. Reflecting on this I see that this is something that also guides my own actions and outlook on life. I feel responsible for what I do and how I react to the events of my life. I can’t change the world, but I can change how I react to it.      

Locus of Control 

The question of accountability and control has been conceptualized in a succinct way by the locus of control. Using this theory, control can be viewed as being deriving internally or externally. Those with an internal locus of control believe that they exercise control over the events of their life, whereas those with an external locus of control believe that outside forces, such as chance or others with more power, “determine life events,” (Northouse, 2016, p. 119). For many years, locus of control was seen as a stable inborn trait: one either has an internal or external locus of control. Recent studies suggest that on a day-to-day basis an individual’s locus of control can shift internally and externally and even that over time “Individuals who experience successful control attempts” may develop a more internal locus of control (Ryon & Gleason, 2014, p. 122)    

Before researching this theory more deeply, I initially thought that I had an internal locus of control in alignment with radical self-accountability. The thought that others might have more power over my life than me is a scary, anxiety-inducing idea. Further reading on the topic confirms my place as a person with an internal locus of control when analyzing how I prefer to experience supervision at work. Employees with an internal locus of control “are more satisfied with participatory management style than are externals,” (Mitchell, Smyser, & Weed, 1975, p. 629). I find this to be true for me. A participatory leadership style seeks input from followers and allows them to be a part of the decision-making process (Northouse, 2016). When I am left out from decision making, I find myself feeling frustrated because control is taken from me.

Resilience 

While I am not someone who likes to pass judgment on how others live their lives, the literature suggests that individuals who live their lives with an internal locus of control are much better off than those who give them power away externally. Those with an external locus of control are more likely to experience anxiety and depression in response to stress. This may be because they feel that they do not have any power to change their situation to remove their stress. They rely on “powerful others, fate, or chance” to change their lives (Ryon & Gleason, 2014, p. 121). I may not be the master of the universe, but I am the leader of my life.  


Image from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/moments-matter/201708/locus-control


References

Mitchell, T., Smyser, CR., & Weed, SE. (1975). Locus of control: Supervision and work satisfaction. Academy of Management Journal, 18(3), 623-631. http://www.jstor.org/stable/255692

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Sage Publishing.

Ryon, H. S., & Gleason, M. E. J. (2014). The role of locus of control in daily life. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(1), 121–131. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213507087

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