Self awareness
Focus of Control Inventory
Focus of Control Inventory
This directive is for clients who feel stuck or overwhelmed by a complex problem. It’s most effective for individuals who present with a high external locus of control, focusing on circumstances or others’ actions while overlooking their own agency. This pattern often leads to passivity and a sense of helplessness, where the client can define an issue but sees no viable path forward.
The instrument works by guiding the client to differentiate between unchangeable situational factors and elements they can directly influence. This structured separation reduces cognitive load and directs their energy toward productive action. By connecting this analysis to their own past successes, the process builds self-efficacy and helps them construct a concrete behavioral plan, shifting their orientation from problem-saturation to effective next steps.
Focus of Control Inventory
Problem Situation:
Unwanted Result (What is happening now):
Desired Result (What you want to happen instead):
Review the problem situation and list all related factors, people, and circumstances in the appropriate columns below.
| Factors You Cannot Directly Control | Factors You Can Directly Control |
|---|---|
Consider a past situation, different from this one, that you handled successfully. What specific actions did you take then?
Look at the “Factors You Can Directly Control” column above. Which single item, if changed, would have the biggest effect?
If you achieved your desired result, what specific new actions would you be taking?
Based on your answers, define your next steps.
| Action Item (from the “Can Control” column) | First Small, Physical Step | To Be Completed By (Date/Time) |
|---|---|---|
Generated with Rapport7 — rapport7.com