What is the Circle of Influence?

Everyone worries—it’s a natural part of life. However, worrying too much can become overwhelming and make it hard to move forward. This is where the circle of influence can come in handy.

When you let go of what you can’t control and instead focus on the positive changes you can make, you’ll find yourself more motivated and even physically healthier. Learn about the circle of influence and how to use it to make your life happier and more productive.

What is the Circle of Influence?

The circle of influence refers to everything an individual can influence but not necessarily control [*]. Examples might include personal habits and behavior, skills and personal growth, work-related matters, relationships, health, and a person’s immediate environment.

Circle of Concern vs. Circle of Influence vs. Circle of Control

The circles of concern and control are on the outer and inner rings of the circle of influence. Like the circle of influence, they can provide insight into where you should focus your time, energy, and attention.

The smallest circle in the center is that of control. As its name suggests, it refers to everything an individual can control directly, such as the effort they put into tasks, their mindset, what they say, how they behave, and their personal goals. Individuals have the most power in the circle of control, as they can make meaningful and deliberate changes.

The second ring contains the circle of influence, a crossover of things within and outside a person’s control. This circle is a gray area where people can try to change things without guaranteeing success.

The third outermost circle is that of concern. Everything within this circle is directly out of a person’s control, but it includes things we care about deeply. Spending too much time in this circle can be unproductive and detrimental to a person’s well-being.

Why Focus on Your Circle of Influence?

Focusing on your circle of influence forces you to accept the things you can’t control and focus on bettering your life. Here are a few other reasons why the circle of influence is such an empowering tool.

Feel empowered

Practicing a circle of influence framework can empower people by helping them feel more in control. Individuals can confidently make positive changes by shifting their focus from external to internal factors.

Make positive changes

Again, because the circle of influence framework shifts focus away from things outside our control, it puts us in the driver’s seat and allows us to reclaim our power. With this mindset, people can make future problems seem less overwhelming and increase their chances of success.

Improve mental health

Focusing on what you can control makes you worry less, reduces stress, and increases productivity. This shift in mindset leads to a more balanced and enriching life because you can build a plan of action and delegate tasks. You can free up mental and emotional energy through delegation and concentrate on personal growth.

Develop a growth mindset

Seeing challenges as opportunities for growth versus uncontrollable struggles can help you develop a healthy mindset, whether for a child or an adult. Reframing obstacles as stepping stones for success can motivate a person, even during the most challenging times.

Developing a growth mindset is important in someone’s early years, as it helps children become resilient and passionate about learning as they age.

Open up new opportunities

Because the circle of influence encourages people to focus on what they can control, they can invest energy in goals and opportunities in their academic life, careers, and relationships. For example, by concentrating the circle of influence on your career, you can find a job, develop new skills, and connect with like-minded professionals.

Identifying Your Circle of Influence

Identifying your circle of influence involves knowing what’s in your circle of concern. Here are a few steps to determine the contents of your circle of influence:

1. Start with the circle of concern. Draw a large circle to represent your concerns and list your top worries. For example, you might list things like others’ opinions about you, your physical health, or stagnancy in your career. If you’re practicing this activity with a teenager or younger child, they might list things like getting good grades in school or fitting in with their classmates.
2. Categorize your concerns. Review your list and sort them into things that are in your control and out of it. Suppose you’re concerned about your job and how much you earn. You can control how much effort you put into work and influence your relationship with your coworkers.
3. Start listing items in your circle of influence. Once you’ve categorized your concerns, it’s time to determine what goes into your circle of influence. Again, if your primary concern is your career, things like local company policies, coworkers, skills, energy, and the projects you work on will be in your circle of influence.
4. Focus on actionable steps and monitor your progress. Identify the actions you can take to make positive progress. If you aren’t getting along with a coworker, you can schedule a conversation with them to clear the air. Then, observe how things change and use mindfulness exercises to ground yourself if things don’t move forward as you expect.
5. Review and adjust your circle regularly. Your circle of influence is dynamic and ever-changing. It might grow or shrink depending on your actions and the results of your changes. Periodically review your circle and reassess where you might have new opportunities.

How to Apply the Circle of Influence in Your Life

There are many ways in which the circle of influence can make you feel more in control of your life. Let’s discuss a few circle of influence examples.

Suppose you parent a teenager and are concerned about their recent behaviors, which include substance use and doing poorly in school. You can’t force them to change their behavior, though it can be tempting to try.

Instead, you can focus on your circle of influence by offering emotional support when they need it and sharing resources to encourage them to make better choices.

Now, let’s look at another example of the circle of influence. Say you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, and you’re worried about the potential health consequences. Factors outside your control include any genetic predisposition and unpredictable outcomes. Knowing this, you can focus your circle of influence on making dietary changes, establishing a regular exercise routine, and following your doctor’s advice to potentially improve your prognosis.

Finally, let’s look at a broader concern—a community issue. Let’s say you’re an avid environmentalist and are concerned about pollution in the neighborhood. Instead of feeling powerless about large-scale environmental issues, focus on what you can do for your community.

You can start by reducing your carbon footprint at home and encouraging close friends and family members to do the same. You can also pioneer environmental initiatives at work, school, and neighborhood.

Expanding Your Circle of Influence

Expanding your circle of influence takes a lot of work, but it can be gratifying. Start simple by being proactive about anything within this circle.

For example, if you want to improve in a particular area, refine your skills and knowledge [*]. Stay informed by reading literature about specific interests or attending workshops.

Another way to move your circle of influence forward is by networking and connecting with others. Join community groups or contact others in your industry to discover what you can learn together.

Most importantly, find your purpose and stay curious. Ask questions about what you want to learn, and be patient and persistent if you don’t get answers immediately. Don’t forget to recognize and reflect on small wins—even the tiniest victories will remind you to stay grounded and focus on developing your growth mindset.

The Bottom Line

It’s natural to worry about things we can’t control, especially when they impact your mental health. However, focusing on your circle of influence can motivate you to take positive action and let go of the heavy emotions bogging you down.

If you work with children, use our growth mindset posters to encourage optimal learning within the circle of influence.

Sources:

1. Rhoades E and Ducan J. “Auditory Verbal Practice: Family-Centered Early Intervention.” Thomas Books, 2017.
2. Barnes S. “Expanding your circle of influence.” Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 2003.