“EVERY ENCOUNTER MATTERS: People with autism sometimes struggle to get the help they need in crisis situations. Preston’s Pursuit for Acceptance is working with first responders to change that.”
This is written on the home page of a client I recently had the honor to support and team up with to help them dial in a focused strategy for growing the impact of their organization. I followed up that engagement with a listening and inclusion luncheon at Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs, a 1:1 coaching session to help train and grow an elected official who was learning more about implicit bias and power distance, a brainstorming session about how I can support the work of CivicPride – an organization dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in local government management, and back-to-back sessions with multiple organizations committed to improving gender equity for women leaders in traditionally inequitable workplaces.
As I look across my portfolio of work, I realize I’m truly living one of my core values: IMPACT. I intentionally choose clients and opportunities for partnerships that put more good out into the world.
One of the best exercises I’ve ever completed was to specifically identify and commit to my top values as a business leader. Authenticity, integrity, and impact are my top 3, and these guide all of my decisions. When you know your values, decision-making becomes so much easier! Clear values that are fully defined provide guardrails and guidance for how to show up, how to invest your time and energy, and why it’s so dang important to get recharged.
I speak a lot at conferences and in organizations, and one of my VERY favorite speaking topics is about how to amplify your impact. Depending on the audience and needs of the conference, the focus shifts slightly, but each session contains elements focused on helping individuals amplify the impact they’re having in the world in ways that are unique to them. (In fact, I’m so committed to this topic, I wrote a whole book about it called “Bold on the Inside: Amplify Your Impact Without Raising Your Voice” – you can find it on Amazon!)
There are lots of ways you can amplify your impact, and the most important one starts with knowing exactly what kind of impact you want to make. Whatever you choose, commit to it and keep it front and center, and watch your impact grow! Here are 5 more strategies to get you started:
Rest up
This might seem counterintuitive, but you’re no good to anybody when you’re stretched too thin, under-rested, and not taking care of your energy. I don’t mean you necessarily need to sleep more, but give your body, brain, and energy levels a break and focus on getting recharged. We already know what you’re capable of when you are running on empty – think about what you could accomplish fully fueled!
Get clear on your “to-be” list
We spend a lot of time focusing on what we want to DO and sometimes forget about how and who we want TO BE. Getting clear on this helps you identify and implement practices and take actions that help you live more as the person you want to be. For example, if I want to be a present parent when my kid is home from school, I need to make sure that I manage both my schedule and my energy in such a way that I’m not too worn out or distracted with work or a million to-do list items when she’s home.
Manage your energy, not your time
A friend of mine once offered this little wisdom nugget: “Managing your energy is more important than managing your time.” I have found this to be true over and over and over. Most people look for productivity hacks, tips, and tricks when instead if they paid closer attention to their energy, they’d be getting the most important things done and actually feeling better about it along the way. Look out for energy vampires, soul-sucking engagements, and trying to force yourself to work at times and in ways that really aren’t natural for you. Intentionally spend your time and adjust your calendar accordingly, and watch your output magnify.
Communicate clearly
Impact is always enhanced when communication is clear. One of the primary reasons for communication is to produce a result. Remember that when you’re constructing your message or engaging in dialogue can help make sure you get out of it what you need! Ask yourself, “Will what I’m about to do or say produce the result I want?” That will help keep you on track.
Sense Your Scope
By this, I mean really truly acknowledge the full breadth of what’s on your plate at any given moment. It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking about our “loads” in silos – there’s the work load, the home load, the family load, the self-growth load, and so on. The truth is, though, all of those are impacting us all of the time, and by giving credence to our full load, we can better understand where we need additional resources, supports, or boundaries. Like I tell my friends and clients constantly, I’m so in awe of what every human is carrying at any given moment, and we keep showing up to do the work!
You’re here to bring something awesome into the world, and we need you AND your impact. If I can support your journey in any way, let’s connect!
