KerryOn: During Times of Chaos: Know Your Locus of Control

I've always been pretty good with change. Okay, let me be more specific. After I have the opportunity to consider how a change impacts me, and I identify a strategy to navigate the best way forward, I’m pretty good with change. What I’m not okay with, is chaos. But what I’ve learned is change and chaos often coexist, sometimes harmoniously, and sometimes in ways that can be disruptive, unpredictable, and ultimately a catalyst for transformation. But chaos can’t live on its own.

I’ve taught change management classes at several universities over the years. I even taught an entire course on change theory in an interdisciplinary doctoral leadership program, so I’m pretty fluent on various change management frameworks. The difference during times of change is there is a transitional period that takes place within a person or society. Change will always have a part within it that feels chaotic, it’s the messy part when what once was is torn apart, but what is becoming isn’t formed quite yet. This transition can take time; however, it ultimately settles for the next wave of change to begin. Chaos on the other hand, is relentless disruption without rhyme or reason. It’s unsettling and doesn’t result in a positive outcome.

Chaos is a beehive swirling around continuously knocking you out of control. The primary outcome of chaos is to disrupt the natural equilibrium. If you have felt this way about your life, specifically feeling nonstop out of control about what is most important to you, you aren’t in change – you are in chaos.

I’ve learned during times of chaos, it’s important to remember my locus of control. Locus of control is a concept to describe our beliefs about the forces that control our lives. For instance, if we have an external locus of control, we believe there are forces out of our control that determine what happens to us. An internal locus of control is a belief that we have the power to shape the events and circumstances in our lives. I admit, there are times when I let external influences get the best of me. Chaos begins to inundate my thoughts and my reactions; it affects my daily habits and sleep. Fortunately, I have developed a fairly strong internal locus of control. It doesn’t often take me too long to realize that I can take positive actions when I’m in a chaotic situation and with effort, I can change my circumstances and minimize the mess, simply by how I respond. Instead of reacting to a situation, I take a second to thoughtfully respond. The difference might seem subtle, but it makes all the difference in the world.

What I’ve noticed over time is that real leaders focus on reducing the chaos during times of change. They allow the change process to take place without the unnecessary fluctuation of high emotions. They provide open communication, identify strategies that offer smooth transitions, and empower positive thinking to optimize outcomes. Each of these actions brings chaos to a halt because the power of chaos is reduced when understanding appears. These are the lessons I continue to learn in a world of chaos, it’s what I teach.

At some point in your life, if you haven’t already, you’ll experience a time of chaos. I suggest you take the time now to develop an internal locus of control, it may just help you determine how long you’ll actually be in the chaos. It might make all the difference in your world.

KerryOn Questions

- Have you felt nonstop out of control about what is most important to you?  

- What do you feel is your primary locus of control, internal or external?  Why?

- How can you create a strong locus of control and make a difference in your world?

The Kerry behind KerryOn

My name is Kerry K. Fierke, Ed.D. (pron. Fear-Key) I have a unique combination of skills and experience – decades of fast-paced corporate experience in Fortune 100 companies and large health care organizations, combined with the academic rigor of a highly ranked research university. My focus is supporting others to create their own path to leadership development, lifelong learning, and a unique leadership legacy. Take a moment to focus on leadership, then KerryOn!

To see all KerryOn's and other leadership stuff, visit www.kerrykfierke.com.