In the pursuit of personal and professional growth, understanding where to focus your time and energy can be a game-changer. One powerful concept that helps clarify this is the "Circles of Influence." Popularized by Stephen Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the Circles of Influence framework provides a visual and strategic approach to managing our concerns and exerting our power effectively.
What are the Circles of Influence?
The Circles of Influence model consists of three concentric circles:
1. Circle of Concern
2. Circle of Influence
3. Circle of Control
These circles represent different areas of our lives, categorized by our ability to impact them.
1. Circle of Concern
The outermost circle encompasses everything that you care about or that concerns you. This can include global issues like climate change, economic conditions, political events, or personal concerns like the health of your loved ones, job security, or societal trends. While these issues matter to you, they are often beyond your direct control.
2. Circle of Influence
Within the Circle of Concern is the Circle of Influence. This circle includes the concerns you have some degree of control over. For instance, while you may not be able to control the entire company’s policy, you can influence your team's processes and decisions. Your interactions, relationships, and immediate environment fall into this category.
3. Circle of Control
At the core is the Circle of Control. This innermost circle consists of things you have direct control over, such as your own behavior, attitudes, and actions. You can decide how to respond to situations, set personal goals, and manage your own time and efforts.
The Benefits of Understanding Your Circles of Influence
Understanding and effectively managing these circles can lead to several benefits:
1. Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Focusing on what you can control and influence rather than what you cannot helps reduce feelings of helplessness and anxiety. It encourages a proactive rather than reactive mindset.
2. Increased Effectiveness
By concentrating your efforts on areas where you can make a difference, you become more efficient and effective. This targeted approach ensures that your energy is spent on productive actions rather than futile worries.
3. Enhanced Problem-Solving
When you clearly delineate what you can control and influence, you can develop more strategic solutions to problems. This clarity allows for better planning and execution.
4. Empowerment and Confidence
Focusing on your Circle of Control fosters a sense of empowerment. Recognizing that you have the power to influence your environment, and that small changes can lead to significant impacts, boosts confidence.
Circles of Power: Prep and Reflect's Take on the Circles of Influence
Having used this in my classroom and personally, I knew I wanted to incorporate it into our planner. It was so powerful, and truly made a huge difference in how I perceived the world. I started noting what I had power over and what I could do about it, and what I needed to let go.
So, Prep and Reflect has taken this concept and made the Circles of Power in our planner Powerful & Productive - An Intention-Setting Planner. There are two circles:
1. The innermost circle is what you have power over.
2. The outermost circle is what you do not have power over.
Everyday, weekday, or week, using these circles, you brain dump. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of brain dumping, see this blog post. Start seeing the benefits of this powerful practice with our newest planner!
Now available online: Powerful & Productive - An Intention-Setting Planner
