Want to influence your future? Make a promise

How can we figure out a way to a better future when uncertainty is so persistent? How on earth can we keep reaching for our goals when we have no idea what's around the corner? These aren't trivial questions, and if we don't start intentionally seeking the answers, we risk drifting and feeling deflated.

Last week I was coaching a woman leader, and the topic of next fiscal goals came up.  Her resignation about the current situation was apparent in her response. She couldn't see the logic in making goals when the rest of the year and even 2021 is unpredictable. She's not wrong; we can't predict what's coming next. However, to give in to resignation and believe we have no choice in how our future will play out erodes our ambition and motivation.

 What if we choose to define and focus on the areas that are within our sphere of influence?

You have the power to influence your outcomes, beginning with developing your self-leadership capabilities and the woman you want to become. You are the creator of you and, therefore, of your possibilities for the future.

You can be intentional with your efforts and focus on the areas where you can add value and impact. Then go about doing your best consistently in those areas. Begin by considering what you care about and how you will engage your strengths, unique insights and gifts to take care of the things that matter most to you. When the action your take is aligned with your care, you shift from passively drifting into designing how your future will unfold.

Clarifying what you care about and making a promise to take care places you right in the centre of your circle of influence.  A promise with a plan of action and accountability replaces being complacent to owning your power to create change.

We can control how we show up and care for our significant relationships, high-value projects, a new initiative, team, and our health and vitality. Shifting our attention to the promises we can make shifts us from resignation to accepting we can influence and care for the things in our life that matter to us.

Seeing and embracing the choices have available to us is imperative if we are going to ride the waves of uncertainty and lead ourselves and others in the future and flourish.