5 ways you impacted someone this week

5 Times You’ve Impacted Someone’s Thoughts This Week 

Unless you live in 100% isolation in outer Mongolia with no internet, it's highly likely you impacted someone else today. And you probably haven't any clue when, how or who.

Which is how most people move throughout life.

Often the soft skill brigade will say “hey you need to GAIN more impact” or HAVE more influence. 

What if I said, you already have influence? In fact, you already impacted someone today but you didn’t see it.  Someone noticed you - and it might be for reasons you never thought of.

The question dear reader is not ‘If’ you impact, it is ‘how’. 

The Brain is Hard-Wired to Notice Others - And you will be noticed! 

It is extremely easy to be ignored. To feel lonely, unheard or simply 'unseen'. This is true.

However, as humans, it is impossible not to impact someone else due to the way our brains pick up on things. 

“But, I try hard to get others to notice me”, yes I realise this might feel that you’ve had no impact at all, but its a case of how, not If. Brains pick up an awareness of someone, and those horrible times when you feel ignored, or unnoticed which means they are unconsciously noting you.  

The way your brain is designed to take in information about every human you interact or come into contact with, think through your day… 

• The person you walked past at the bus stop to get your morning Starbucks. 
• The quiet one in your weekly progress meets that you haven’t had a chance to meet yet. 
• Your 276th Zoom meeting for the day. 

In business, we strive to ‘have influence’ rarely do we consider that we already do. 

Even when you’re not saying anything. 

Influence is a scale, rather than an absolute. 

• You can negatively influence someone, i.e. aggravate, annoy or give an impression of falsity (this is why influence or influencer is getting a tarnished reputation) 
• Have neutral influence, i.e  Your influence has registered, but neither 

Impact happens when you get curious about your effect on others on a more conscious and deliberate level. Just by being aware you start to listen more, move differently ad speak with intent. 

The results? Well, some people call this presence.

You develop stronger relationships, the desired outcomes you want and the added benefit of a deeper level of confidence, and self-assurance in yourself. 

Another bonus is a few higher points on your EQ in the self-awareness bracket. 

A GIFT FOR YOU: For the launch of this newsletter I've decided to give one lucky Linkediner a week a copy of James Clear's Atomic Habits, a book that has a huge impact on all who read it.

To win all you need to do is click 'like' on this article, and comment on which of the 5 points stood out for you. The winner will be announced in my next article

Your brain whirrs unconsciously with lightening quick questions

“Are they safe? Are they a friend? How do I prepare for this interaction? Hey! I met someone with that tone of voice before! They pissed us off!” 

In what ways can you impact without even knowing it? Here’s my list for knowing. 

5 Ways you have impacted someone this week. 

1. Your tone of voice 

It’s not what you say, but the way you say it, and it’s true. Take the words “What are you doing?” and say them out loud. And again.  Depending on how you say this, and where the emphasis is your words could be the same but still interpreted as angry, desperate, or even encouraging all depending on your tone, pitch and pace. 

2. Your energy 

How you show up, even on zoom will affect everything else. Influence starts with mindset. If you’ve arrived from an awful meeting, or a row with them indoors, or had bad traffic… think of what that feels like in your body? That projects onto other people, 

3. Your attention

Your attention is one of your most sought after commodities. From constant messaging, emails, zoom calls and even eating a late dinner in front of the telly, your time impacts those around you, particularly the lack thereof. It is noticed when you are not fully present.

There's a lot of guilt surrounding the impact that your time has, it is important not to put pressure to be everywhere at once, however, being mindful of how your attention affects others will certainly improve your overall impact.

4. Your silence

Silence is a powerful gap, which can be filled with thoughts, anxiety or safety. How you create silence determines how you influence the other person. If you have set up a space with psychological safety, silence is powerful and invites reflection and exploration. 

A nervous silence plays on peoples insecurities and self-doubt, leaving them to wonder… what is something I said? Do they care? Did they notice?

5. Your physical presence

Looks may not matter, but impressions do. Your body language, your facial expressions and your aesthetic all play a part in impacting others.

It's why design exists after all. We are visual creatures, and our external features share information, much in the way your powerpoint does. There is a lot to play with depending on the impression you want to make.

I have to say, I never used to head to my wardrobe in the morning wondering how my M&S shirt was going to make someone feel, but certainly, since I started speaking at more conferences I was aware that actually - people do respond and make immediate assumptions about not just who I am, but what I can do.

If style is something that would help your career path then do check out the Ambition to Impact episode, I interview Maria Macklin Image style consultant of House of Colour, about matching our internal impact with our external. 

All wrapped up - 5 strong ways to

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Did you enjoy this article?

Don't forget to click LIKE on this and comment below which of the 5 points you feel has a greater impact in the workplace to be in with a chance of winning a copy of James Clear's Atomic Habits, the winner will be announced in the next article!

Would you like to have a greater impact in your career?

I work with professionals in finance and tech who refuse to coast, and who have a desire to carve a career that is defined by their values.

The following principles guide my work; that potential is found when you work on your Motivations, Abilities, Delivery and Engagement with others. 

Impact happens when you explore what you’re MADE of.  

Here are a host of extra resources of mine:

1. Download the pdf guide: 31 Habits of Confident People at Work
2. Subscribe to the PODCAST: Ambition to Impact 
3. SCORECARD - What will help you excel in your career? Use the Excel Your Career Scorecard to assess which 5 areas will allow you to thrive in your career.
4. Check availability for a taster COACHING SESSION - Develop Your Professional Impact

If you're interested in me coming to deliver an in-person or virtual, Keynote or Corporate Training package, please feel free to pop me a message on LinkedIn or email me directly at alex@speakingambition.com

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About me

I'm Alexandra Bond Burnett, an ICF accredited executive coach, speaker and facilitator specialising in finance, tech and accounting.

I specialise in working with people who want to have greater working relationships personal impact in their roles by working in their communication, confidence and influence.

Using a neuro coaching approach, as well as experience from working professionally in theatre as well as my previous roles in finance, and as an accounting entrepreneur, I encourage my clients to approach their communication strategically and with empathy.