Locus of Control: Another Overlooked Legal Performance Enhancer
Several months back I made the point that not all performance enhancers are illegal. For example, self-motivation is a phenomenal legal performance enhancer that can separate an athlete from the competition. Along these same lines, another legal performance enhancer one should not overlook is locus of control.
Locus of control is a term to describe the mindset of how an individual perceives cause and effect. If someone has an external locus of control, they view cause and effect through the lens of fairness, luck, chance, and other external factors. On the other hand, if they have an internal locus of control, they view cause and effect through the lens of effort, strategy, and resilience.
Research suggest that those with an internal locus of control perform better under pressure and respond better to adversity than those who don’t. This is because those with an external locus of control tend to worry more and miss opportunities. They worry more because they don’t believe the process is under their control and external factors will dictate their success. They miss opportunities because they lack an understanding of the factors under their control that lead to opportunity.
For these reasons, learning how to focus one’s locus of control is a performance enhancer. In short, it’s self-sabotage when you put too much focus on things you don’t control. On the other hand, mastering the things you do control is your greatest weapon.
As Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote nearly 2000 years ago:
You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.