13 Mar HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD. EXPAND YOUR CIRCLE OF CONTROL.
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If you are anything like me, you might look around yourself at the moment and feel like the world is on fire. You are concerned. A little concerned, or downright worried.
When this concern keeps going day after day, it can be overwhelming. Even debilitating in terms of how you feel. Sometimes it can feel like there is nothing you can do to make a difference. It is stressful and this continuing stress does not serve you or your leadership well.
If you look at the concepts around concern and influence, you know the bigger the gap between what you feel you can influence, and what you are concerned and worried about, the greater level of stress you might experience.
I believe there are things you can do to alter your own state. While you may not be running a country or perhaps even a company, you certainly have opportunities within your own sphere where you can make a difference and develop more control.
Rather than looking at all the things that you cannot make a difference to, you can flip the script. You can exercise your choice. Choose where you focus your attention and energy and maybe you can expand your area of influence and control.
This is my approach in a world that has some very complex and unprecedented challenges. In addition to my normal work with leaders and elevating the global practice of leadership, I am choosing to make a difference where I can. Here are some of the things I am focusing on. Where I exercise a greater degree of control and feel like, in my own way, I am making a positive difference to the world.
The first is my ongoing role in WomenTHAT. A movement created by Sarah Derry and a few supporters to foster women in senior leadership across a range of organisations which historically have not been well represented by women in the senior levels. Women in travel, hospitality, accommodation, tourism, and events.
This is quite an expansive sector and there is a real opportunity to make a difference here. To imagine, inspire and influence. To create opportunity for greater representation, which is not just beneficial for the individuals and the organisations, but for the sector as a whole. We know when women thrive, so do their organisations and industries.
I am privileged to continue to play a role in this organisation, facilitating the executive forums, the online webcasts, and donating copies of my book, Big Leadership, to all of our executive participants.
The second thing I do to make a difference is as a global ambassador for the University of Sydney’s Campaign for Sydney, Leadership for Good. This is the largest campaign ever launched by the University of Sydney. It comprises a range of philanthropic and research initiatives directed at solving some of the most pressing and important issues of the day. From how we build communities to biodiversity, medical research, and the role of education in our society and its future.
I am honoured to be part of this visionary campaign and excited to see the progress in coming years.
The third thing I am doing this year is mentoring a group of five professional speakers from Asia Professional Speakers Singapore (APSS). Helping speakers to share their very important messages with the world. Helping them to accelerate and elevate their journey, because they, each in their own way, are going to make a difference for the greater good.
By helping them to share their stories and their vision for the future, I feel like I am making a difference to an even bigger group of people.
So, is what I am doing to expand my circle of control. I know that I am making an important difference and a contribution. One that benefits me and my family and the people I work with, and in a much more expansive way makes a difference in the world.
Even creating opportunity for one person is changing that person’s world. This is Leading Possibility. Creating options and opportunity.
I believe we can each make a difference. Look beyond our own boundaries, from can’t do to can do, and make a bigger contribution. Personal choice is powerful.
None of what I have chosen to do takes too much time, yet it makes a tremendous difference to how I feel about the experience of the world I am having right now. Because in each of these circles, I can feel the positivity, the energy, the joy and the impact. For today and tomorrow.
This allows me to navigate the rest of the world in a far less stressed way.
- Where can you take some control?
- Where can you move from can’t to can?
- How can you make your experience of the world today a little bit better?
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