One of the more striking sentiment raised by many of my clients through the pandemic is a yearning for “more,” to have an impact. I can honestly say to all my clients that they have more impact than they realize. We all do. Everything we say and do has a “ripple effect.” Every person we come in contact with is impacted in either a positive or a negative way by the interaction. The question is not whether we have an impact but rather what impact we are making. Our impact on others needn’t be unconscious. We can choose our impact. We have the ability to be intentional and deliberate about the way we show up in the world to make the kind of impression we want. First, ask:
What difference could I be making?
What difference am I making?
What difference do I want to make?
Then be willing to take a stand and speak up and speak out. Align your actions with your words.
Impact is a matter of conscious choice and making a resolution. To own our impact, we need to approach every day and each task as an opportunity to make an impression. Making an impact is a journey. Like any long-distance hiking, pace yourself. Most avid thru hikers would say they are not extreme, jut consistent. The secret is methodically walking 20+ miles per day, constantly, every day regardless of the weather. Impact is about creating constancy in our thoughts, words, and actions to continuously develop and bring out our best qualities.
10 Essentials of Impact:
1. Take initiative. Generate new solutions to old problems. Be that person who always offers a creative idea and a solid plan. Don’t wait for things to happen, stand up and seize the opportunity; grab the bull by the horns.
To-do: do one thing a day beyond what you have already mastered, take it up a notch.
2. Be resourceful. Do a lot with a little. Use what you have to do all that you can. Approach your work with the spirit of pioneering to not only make things happen, but to make things better. Resources might be limited. However, resourcefulness is infinite. Be open-minded and leverage whatever is at your disposal.
To-do: Try one new strategy a day to get something you want.
3. Share knowledge. Keep stakeholders informed. Impact is built by sharing knowledge, not hoarding it. It’s not about what you know. What matters is how you apply what you know for others to capitalize on it. The best thing about knowledge-sharing is that knowledge multiplies when shared.
To-do: share one piece of knowledge a day to help someone else.
4. Seek knowledge. Be interested in learning from others. Pursue knowledge to better understand people and situations and search for wisdom in applying the knowledge acquired to navigate a new way forward out of the comfort zone and into uncharted territory.
To-do: Learn one new thing a day.
5. Deliver high quality work on time. Be reliable and trustworthy. A job well done leaves a lasting impression. Deliver what is asked of you, and more. Our work represents who we are. Always do your best. Quality is a habit.
To-do: Choose one thing a day to accomplish flawlessly.
6. Go the extra mile. Do more than what is required or expected of you. Be the go-to person that others can count on to get things done. Go further, be more helpful, more supportive, more valuable. The extra mile is never crowded. When everyone is looking down and avoiding eye contact, look up, and volunteer for the difficult tasks.
To-do: Do one thing every day without being asked.
7. Network. Connect with others inside and outside of your immediate work groups. Your network can provide you with information and insights into different topics. Focus on building rapport and exchanging information that is beneficial. Your network is only as strong as the way you manage it.
To-do: every day pick one person outside your immediate circle to connect with.
8. Be prepared. Be curious and continue to acquire new skills to fully participate and contribute. However, there’s no way to plan for and prepare for every possible thing that might come our way. Thus, prepare yourself by building mindfulness and resilience. Mindfulness is the awareness that gives us the ability to be resilient, to not get overwhelmed by what is going on around. Knowing that everything is transient.
To-do: do one thing every day that scares you.
9. Adapt. Embrace change, improvise, and constantly readjust to thrive in the world at large and in the workplace. There are always changes and challenges. Adapt to your surroundings, the circumstances, and the people. Understand yourself to leverage your strengths and other people in order to work better with them.
To-do: Do one thing a day in a different way; e.g. use opposite hand to brush your teeth.
10. Be positive. Cheerfulness, good humor, and enthusiasm attract followers. Positivity and optimism make people want to be around you and work with you. The optimist sees a path forward where others see a roadblock. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions and inspires positive action even when doors seem closed. To-do: Take one opportunity a day to recognize and celebrate one good thing in your life.
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