Tool for "changemakers": Gain clarity to make a bigger impact!
I’m writing a series of articles about tools I’ve tested and found to be effective in my roles as a leader, change agent, mother, and entrepreneur. I promise they’re quick, simple, effective, and can lead to wonderful transformations—if you stick with them over time.
💡THE PROBLEM: “A LACK OF CLARITY”
Driving meaningful change is a complex challenge, especially for Léo, who is tasked with implementing a tool to assess his company's carbon footprint.
He has to juggle several tasks:
Consider the technical and logistical aspects of the tool.
Become familiar with similar standards and tools.
Arrange for third-party certification.
Anticipate internal resistance, such as political maneuvering and cultural issues.
Refine one's role and influence with stakeholders.
Under pressure, Léo feels alone and overwhelmed. His priorities become muddled, leading to confusion and hindering his ability to communicate.
🔍 The tool: WRITING
"Writing is the best way to discover what you know." – Flannery O’Connor
For Léo, rather than going around in circles in his head, writing is his best ally.
By putting his thoughts down on paper or on a screen, he clarifies his tasks, his questions, and his priorities. This simple act brings him immense relief. In just a few moments, he gains some perspective, identifies what’s essential, and regains his composure.
For him, writing is also a way to bring together his mind, heart, and body, and to give free rein to his emotions.
By writing down the priorities, decisions, and questions discussed in the meeting, he also establishes an agreement with the people he is meeting with.
If you want to be as clear-headed as Léo, you can make writing a daily ritual. Jot down your thoughts in the morning, document decisions during meetings, and reflect on the day in the evening. It’s a lifestyle habit that helps you stay clear-headed every day.
🐝 YOUR CHALLENGE TO BE MORE CLEAR AND INSPIRE OTHERS
Hopefully, if you’re still reading this post (thanks, by the way), you’re thinking something like, “Okay, but what do I actually do?”
I have two suggestions for you:
Every day—ideally in the morning—you can answer the following questions:
How do I feel?
What thoughts are on my mind this morning?
What are my top 3 priorities (both professional and personal) for the day to make the impact I want?
Before an important meeting, clarify your strategy by asking yourself the following questions:
Why is this meeting important to me / my mission?
What do I want to achieve by leaving?
What is the message we want to convey?
My Feedback
Writing was my lifeline. In my role as Director of Sustainability and Purpose, the flood of thoughts could be overwhelming. To make sure I didn’t lose track of anything, I took notes and wrote things down. It was my way of staying on course and moving projects forward.
Even today, this is my daily ritual for refocusing my energy, clarifying my thoughts, and calming my mind and heart. You don’t have to be a writer. You just have to let yourself be carried away by the power of writing.
"So... Are you up for it or not?"
“Writingis an act of creation; it’s letting your soul speak.”
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Hello to you, agents of change!
I’m Nina, an impact coach and expert in leadership and sustainable transformation. I led transformation and multifaceted performance initiatives at Veolia for over 12 years. Today, what I love to do is help organizations and professionals rethink their business and make them proud to contribute, in their own way, to a more sustainable, humane, and nature-friendly world. If you want to be an inspiring leader and rally a team to maximize your impact, contact me!
