Course 2, Discussion 4: The problem is the path

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Around the Concern:
The decline in the economy; hostility on social media; and the views of others

The Influence Circle:
How I handle difficulties
My everyday routines; the people I spend time with

When I feel overburdened, I may stop and consider whether I'm worrying about things that are beyond my control or if I'm concentrating on something I can really alter. I can use this to refocus my energies on constructive endeavors.

This executive's ability to maintain focus on their sphere of influence is what caught my attention. They stayed solution-oriented and made aggressive measures to better their circumstances rather than emotionally responding to setbacks. Instead of spending time on things they couldn't alter, they made strategic choices that directly affected their objectives, giving priority to their inner circle of influence.

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Circle of concern

Validation in the workplace

Objections to me as a primary caregiver

Behaviour or choices of people in my family

Circle of influence

Using my time to inspire

Controlling my emotions

Doing my best and being okay with it

In the second video the executive fought the common practice of badmouthing colleagues and superiors and took initiative. This is a vital lesson because its so easy to fall into the trap of gossiping. Sometimes, it just pulls you in without you even realizing.

@FrenchToast

✒️ Watch the following video and identify 3 things in your circle of concern, 3 things in your circle of influence, and 1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence.

Circle of concern:

How smart I am compared to others

War

How others see me

Circle of influence:

Having integrity 

Working on what I can control

Prioritizing healthy lifestyles

One thing I can do to remind myself to be proactive:

Remain mindful of what I am doing and avoid acting on things I cannot control.

✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive? What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?

What stood out to me about the executive is that he didn’t put the president down in order to put the rest of the team up. For example, he didn’t indulge in the negative talk about the team president and how he shadows out the other team members, essentially avoiding reactive behavior. Instead, he tried hard to work with instead of against his boss by doing what he can control to aid the situation. 

Watch the following video and identify 3 things in your circle of concern, 3 things in your circle of influence, and 1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence.

Circle of concerns are: weather, economy and others reactions and actions. 

Circle of influence: My Health, family and my reactions and actions.

Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive? What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?

He isn't being judgmental or mean, he has decided to take initiative in being positive and productive. 

Watch the following video and identify 3 things in your circle of concern, 3 things in your circle of influence, and 1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence.

The discussion regarding the circle of concern and influence is by far one of my favourites in the program. 

My circle of concern consists of the following three things

1. The current state of the job market 

2. The reactions of others

3. Unexpected or unforeseen changes 

My circle of influence consists of the following things

1. The way I choose to spend my time

2. The way I speak to others and the words I choose

3. What activities I choose to spend my energy on

1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence.

I can consistently reflect on my choices and remind myself that I have the power to make a change, as long as I focus on what I can control rather than what is beyond my control. 

Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive? What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?

After watching the video, the empathy and consistent efforts of the executive stood out to me the most. True leadership comes from our ability to be empathetic and support others instead of tearing them down.

The focus on supporting the president and complimenting his strengths, making his weaknesses insignificant, shows that the executive was being proactive. They did not criticize the president’s weaknesses but compensated by using their strengths without making the president feel threatened. 

Additionally, the executive took the initiative and anticipated the president's needs rather than engaging in office gossip.

@FrenchToast

✒️ Watch the following video and identify 3 things in your circle of concern, 3 things in your circle of influence, and 1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence.

3 things in my circle of concern: How other people perceive me, natural disasters, and future honestly.

3 things in my circle of influence: My time, my actions on how i work towards my future and my thoughts.

1 thing I can do to remind myself to focus on the circle of influence is, that I can always work on my circle of influence and i can take responsibility and not participate in any negative energy exchanges or do any thing that would create a feeling of disrespect towards an another person.

✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive? What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?

From this video, the thing that highlighted to me and stood out was that the executive took the initiative, he anticipated and empathized and focusing on his circle of influence, he not only not criticized the president but taking matters in his own hands, he read the situation, compensated for them and did not make the president feel threatened using his strength and complimenting the president's strength. It was his chosen proactive response to the circumstances and with the help of focusing on his circle of influence rather than the circle of concern, he made best of out the overall situation.

@FrenchToast

After watching both videos, I can see how powerful this concept is — especially the reminder that growth starts when we focus on what we can control, rather than getting stuck on things we can’t. Here’s my reflection:

3 Things in My Circle of Concern:

1. The economy and how it impacts future opportunities.

2. How other people might judge or misunderstand me.

3. Global events and changes that are completely out of my hands.

3 Things in My Circle of Influence:

1. How I choose to react to challenges, both big and small.

2. The attitude and energy I bring into my relationships.

3. The habits and routines I build to strengthen myself mentally and emotionally.

One Thing I Can Do to Stay Focused on My Circle of Influence:
I can build a habit of pausing whenever I feel frustrated or powerless, and asking myself: “Is this something I can change or act on?” That simple question can help bring me back to focusing on my influence rather than wasting energy on worry.

What Stood Out About the Executive:

What really impressed me was the way the executive handled the situation with empathy and foresight. Rather than wasting time complaining about the president’s leadership style, they chose to strengthen the relationship by compensating for the weaknesses and anticipating needs.

That shift from frustration to action is the true definition of being proactive. Instead of feeling stuck or powerless, the executive worked on their own approach, improved communication, and created a healthier environment for everyone, all without waiting for someone else to change first.

It was a great reminder that when we focus on making positive deposits into relationships, even tough situations can improve over time. 🌱

@FrenchToast

✒️ Watch the following video and identify 3 things in your circle of concern, 3 things in your circle of influence, and 1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence. circle of concern worried concerned judgmental Circle of Influence positive people putting things first understanding 1. participate in negative activities

Watch the video here

✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive? What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?

Circle on concern  

what going on in USA as a whole

 if public transportation or special Olympics in my area gets funding for next year.

 How bad people are being treated

circle of influence

 how well I do in my classes this term

how welll I do at my swim. Meet coming up

 how welll I do on cups

 I can tell my self keep my eye on prize and take small steps to work my goals .

i think the boss was closed minded at first but as soon as he saw t his worker getting others to his side he became more open minded.

✒️ Watch the following video and identify 3 things in your circle of concern, 3 things in your circle of influence, and 1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence.

3 things in the Circle of Concern:

• My mistakes
• My impact on others
• Whether I am up to the tasks

3 things in the Circle of Influence:

• Active listening
• Observation
• Offering input

1 thing I can do to remind myself to focus on my Circle of Influence:

• Stepping out of my comfort zone and challenging myself often reveals hidden abilities and uncovers unexpected realities, which leads to personal growth.

✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive? What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?

What struck me about this executive is that he pays close attention to the needs of his superior, who adopts an authoritarian leadership style.
The executive compensates for the leader’s shortcomings in a supportive way, positively influencing the members of the organization.