Stephen Covey developed the ‘Circles of Control, Influence and Concern’ in the 1980's. In the 2020’s this tool remains a highly useful and valuable resource for helping people take back control of where they spend their time, to identify timewasters, and through this also strengthen resilience. For the past decade I have taught this to many leaders who utilise the tool in their personal and professional lives. They use it because it is so simple and effective. Shared in this post (and the downloadable PDF) is an adapted version of the Circles of Control, Influence and Concern.
In work and in life there are many places we can put our attention. Our lives don't just happen. Whether we know it or not, it is being designed by us. The choices, after all, are ours and as easy or as hard as it may seem we get to make choices about where our attention goes.
There are a host of emotions, feelings, thoughts, behaviours and activities that we make choices and decisions about every day. To look for joy or be in complaint, to hold onto fears or to choose courage, to assert control or embrace the unknown, to take action or be inactive, and so on. Granted, some of these choices and decisions are easier then others to make.
Regardless, every moment, every situation provides a new choice. And in doing so, it gives a perfect opportunity to do things how you need them to be, to produce good results or do nothing at all. What is important to understand, is where our attention goes impacts how we experience life. It also has an impact on how much of our time is spent on those things we can affect (our areas of influence) versus what we can not (areas of concern that we have no control over).
Three areas where attention goes:
What you have direct control of (YOU)
What areas you have have influence over (YOU, WE)
What areas are of concern but you have no control over (YOU, WE, IT).
Things I control
An area of control is the area we have direct control over - OURSELVES! The amount of control is limited by individual self-awareness, including the conscious choices and decisions made and actions taken. The key to this area is in our personal self awareness and self leadership. How well we go about leading ourselves through life and its challenges.
Things I can influence
An area of influence is the area we can affect. It encompasses those matters that we can do something about. What we can influence is reliant on emotional intelligence, if we are to influence others, in a non-harmful way. When focus goes onto areas that can be influenced we become more proactive. Proactive people work on things they can do something about. The nature of their energy in doing this is positive and enlarging. They think of possibilities. They create their circle of influence and make it larger.
Concerns outside of my control
The area of concern is the area we have no control over and it sits outside of our current reach. It encompasses the wide range of concerns we have in life, such as, national or global issues, matters to do with whānau and friends, some problems at mahi, government policy, issues of te taiao (the environment), the threat of war, etc. When we focus on this area of concern we become reactive to life‘s circumstances. The nature of being constantly reactive is neglecting those issues that are under our influence or control because our energy and time is going elsewhere. Therefore, the ability to influence shrinks.
Concerns outside of my control
The nature of the areas where your focus goes, will typically create certain emotions, thoughts and feelings, more so than others will. The areas that we have control and influence over, tend to be more enlarging positive and proactive. The areas that we are concerned about but cannot influence, tend to be negative, problem focused and restricting. Our power and influence grows by focusing on those things we can do something about (areas of control and influence).
How can you apply?
Make a list of where your time is spent. This can be a context within your life such as a project, mahi, processes, systems, whānau, people, social media or across all areas of life. Consider where your time is spent, including general matters you are involved in, thinking about, feeling, experiencing, doing from day-to-day.
Transfer items from the list into each relevant circle. Consider, do yo have direct control over it (yourself), do you have indirect control (area of influence) or are you concerned about it (but have no control). If you get stuck on where to list an item, ask yourself the four questions overpage.
Allocate time and energy spent. How much time and energy is spent on these areas in a given day or week? Timing can be approximate, it does not need to be exact. Consider, is it reasonable and useful the amount of time spent. Consider momentarily whether the thoughts, feelings and emotions spent on areas of concern are conducive to your happiness, goals, and intentions.
Let go Make decisions about what you ‘need to’ or ‘should’ let go of from the larger outer circle. Before getting involved in new activities and responsibilities, think deeply about whether it is worth your effort and time. If there is spare time left over, you have the choice to transfer it to those things you can do something about.
Four questions worth asking when faced with a concern
Is this in my circle of influence? Quickly ask and answer the question of whether the matter is in your area of influence or area of concern. In your reasoning you can apply logic or simply follow your gut or wairua response.
Is this worth my influence? If you recognise that you can influence a matter, you still need to determine whether you have the time, resources, and energy to invest in it. This may require prioritising.
Is there a small part of what I am concerned about, that I can influence? If the matter is in your cirlce of concern, is there an aspect that you can influence, e.g., Circle of concern = the national economy and high cost of living. Circle of influence = coach tamariki/children to have healthy relationship with money by modeling healthy money habits, smart work ethic, etc.
Who can I talk to that can influence what I am concerned about? If the matter is in your cirlce of concern but outside of your control, check if there is anyone you know who can influence the changes instead, then leave them to it.
Gaining awareness of where your energy, time, and resources are spent is a giant step in becoming proactive. Instead of reacting to or worrying about conditions over which you have little or no control, being proactive means that you can focus time and energy on things you can do something about.
Challenge yourself to put your attention on matters that you can contribute to or complete. Effectiveness will come from doing this without allowing perfectionism and worries to compromise your judgment.
Essentially, the more you can focus on your areas of influence and control, the wider and bigger those circles become. Learning to “let go” or “managing” concerns in the outer circle can be tricky at first, but they are skills that can be learned and will be worth their weight in gold!
Click the PDF download below for the remaining information, examples and full slides.