How to Coach Yourself and Others Influencing, Inter Personal and Leadership Skills | Page 145

Stephen Covey’s Influencing Paradigm
In Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People he writes about two circles
which contain our lives, the Circle of Concern and the Circle of Influence.
Circle of Concern — encompassing all the things we care about; ranges from our
personal concerns (health, career, relationships, etc.) to our global concerns (global
warming, war, recession, etc.)
Circle of Influence — includes the things we have the power to affect; this circle is
smaller than the Circle of Concern. The book goes on to show its readers how to be
proactive and affect change by focusing their energies in their Circle of Influence.
The problems with Covey’s Circles of Concern and Influence
We undercut our power and mistakenly place things outside our Circle of Influence
“The problems all of us face fall in one of three areas: direct control (problems involving
our own behavior); indirect control (problems involving other people’s behavior); or no
control (problems we can do nothing about, such as our past, or situational realities).”
~ Stephen R. Covey
We have the tendency to underestimate our capacity to influence life, effectively placing
things in our Circle of Concern rather than in our Circle of Influence. For instance,
because we can’t (most likely) solve global warming individually, we may abdicate the
power we do have saying, “That’s too big of a problem. I’m just one person. I can’t
change it.” The truth, however, is that we can take action that does affect global
warming, even if it doesn’t eliminate it. Notice where you’re
unconsciously giving up your power to affect change by lumping issues into that place
“out there” where you think you have no control. Then choose to take whatever actions
you can to use your power as effectively as possible.
We fail to focus more intentionally even within our Circle of Influence “The proactive
approach is to change from the inside-out; to be different, and by being different to
effect positive change in what’s out there — I can be more resourceful, I can be more
diligent, I can be a more creative, I can be more cooperative.”
~ Stephen R. Covey
The challenge in the Circle of Influence is to focus our energies, efforts, and power for
the greatest effect. Even when we admit that we have more potential to influence life,
that potential can go unfulfilled when we don’t concentrate sufficiently. Covey writes, “At
the very heart of our Circle of Influence is our ability
to make and keep commitments and promises.”
I agree. In fact, I see a third circle that moves as your focus changes. This Circle of
Commitment represents the area within your Circle of Influence where you are
intentionally putting your time and energy (whether you do so for 10 minutes or the
next year). This circle symbolizes the difference between the statements “I can” and “I
will.” We each “can” do many things, yet only when we focus “will” we accomplish what
we envision. Notice where you are not fully committing to the things you can do. Make
conscious choices to follow though on your desires with action.