Cathy's blog

What is impact?

Impact = getting results through your capacity to influence the world (including other people)

• Getting your clients to implement what you advise them to do
• Getting your supplier to deliver the quality you need
• Getting your husband to put his clothes in the laundry basket
• Getting your children to eat their veggies

If we lived in utopia, these scenarios would probably play out like this:

• You think: *they really should* — and miraculously, they do!
• You say: *you should* — and miraculously, they do!

But if you’ve been at this for a while – you know neither of these methods has a great success rate 😅

So how DO you increase your impact?

You start with you.

And of course, whenever I say this, I see most of my clients squirm, bristle, puff, and roll back their chair.

“Why should I do something when it’s clear that my husband is just too lazy to put his socks where they should be?”

And I get that.

I’ve bristled for a very long time about this 😄 And I remained frustrated. Because the uncomfortable truth remains: change starts with you.

And that’s good news. Because even though you might have little telepathic control over others, you DO have some control over yourself!

So yes, in the end, it does take two to tango. But there’s nothing wrong with improving your own dance moves in the meantime. Your tango might become more elegant just by doing that! 💃

Now before you start puffing because the people around you aren’t doing what they’re supposed to, just ask yourself what YOU can do to increase your impact (and improve the quality of your interactions at the same time).

Some tips?

1. Listen, intently
2. Ask questions — for better understanding
3. Don’t judge

And check in with yourself, because how often do you forget at least one of the above? 😉

You got this!