Five Guiding Principles
The Circle of Impact Leadership Six Series
The internet is full of advice. Some of it is good, and a lot of it is superficial. Many assumptions and practices that served us well in the past no longer do so because the context of our lives has changed so dramatically.
The transition from the 20th century to now the third decade of the 21st is a significant change in the context of our lives. Embedded in this transitional context is resistance to change. I have discovered that people like the idea of what is new and innovative but rarely act to implement those ideas and practices to the degree that is promised.
Also embedded in this attitude is the strange notion that stability, certainty, and unchangeability are the default ways human society functions. This pattern of behavior reveals weaknesses in human development. The difficulty that people and organizations have with change is not really embedded with the structure, but in the mindset and character of each person.
I appreciate the good advice that guides me through change, allowing me to keep my head clear and not give in to fear, doubt, or peer pressure. This is the mindset I had in mind when I created the Circle of Impact model of leadership almost twenty fives ago.
My book, Circle of Impact: Taking Personal Initiative To Ignite Change, is not a quick read that reminds you of what you already know. Rather it is a fresh approach to personal and organizational leadership describing how we can function as persons of impact in the 21st century.
In the process of writing the book, I discovered that we need guidance. Not advice, not motivation, not better strategies, but guidance that transcends the moment of change. As a part of creating the model and writing the book, a set of Guiding Principles emerged in my thinking. Think of them as sort of a summary in a short form of the book.
The relevance of the Circle of Impact to our time also continues to change and situations change. Below is the current iteration of these Guiding Principles, reworked in 2023. The video that accompanies this post is new and replaces the version that had originally be produced in 2021.
Circle of Impact Five Guiding Principles
All Leadership Begins with Personal Initiative to Create Impact.
We are ALL in Transition. Every One of Us. All the time.
The Greatest Change that We Experience is in Our Self-Understanding.
Leadership Impact Expands Through Networks of Relationships.
Start Small. Act Locally. Share Globally. Take the Long View.
The other videos in the series build upon this perspective. They are available to view on my YouTube channel. I will post a video with a comment each Friday.
If you have questions or want to discuss how the Circle of Impact can benefit your team or organization, please reach out to me at ed@edbrenegar.com.
The Leadership Six Series
Introduction to the Circle of Impact model of leadership