The Circle of Influence: A Leadership Framework for Complex Times
The Leadership Challenge: Where Should You Focus?
A major policy change has just been announced. Your team looks to you for direction, but uncertainty looms large. Meanwhile, external pressures – economic shifts, funding cuts, or climate impacts – seem beyond your control. Where do you focus your energy?
For leaders across sectors, navigating complexity is a daily reality. Whether you’re shaping policy, leading a business, or championing sustainability initiatives, the challenges can feel overwhelming. A key to effective leadership isn’t trying to control the uncontrollable – it’s knowing where to apply your influence for maximum impact.
Enter the Circle of Influence Framework

This powerful model helps leaders shift from a reactive to a proactive mindset. It distinguishes between three key areas:
- The Circle of Control: Factors you have direct authority over, such as your decisions, communication, and team structures.
- The Circle of Influence: Areas you can shape through relationships, collaboration, and strategy – like team culture, stakeholder engagement, and organisational change.
- The Circle of Concern: Broader external factors – economic trends, regulatory shifts, or global crises – that impact you but remain beyond your direct influence.
Leaders who apply this framework focus their energy on what they can control and influence, rather than getting stuck in frustration over what they can’t.
The Framework in Action: Becks Goffin’s Application
Becks Goffin, Principal Advisor at Auckland Council, learned about the Circle of Influence framework on the Sustainability Leadership Programme (SLP). Applying the Circle of Influence to her work has been transformative. She is now focussing her efforts more strategically within her organisation.
“I’ve started to work more proactively to apply the ‘circle of influence’ in my mahi,” says Becks. By identifying key supporters and advocates, she has strengthened her ability to drive climate action in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Benefits for Leaders
The Circle of Influence framework offers several benefits for leaders:
- Strategic Focus: By understanding what you can control or influence, you can allocate your energy and resources more effectively.
- Relationship Building: Recognising your sphere of influence helps identify key stakeholders and opportunities for collaboration.
- Team Empowerment: Using the framework helps leaders guide their teams to focus on actionable areas.
- Change Management: Understanding your circles helps navigate complex change initiatives.
- Resilience: Distinguishing between what you can and cannot control or influence helps maintain momentum and wellbeing when facing large-scale challenges.
How to Apply the Circle of Influence
1. Leading Self: Regularly map your circles and check your energy allocation.
- What can you control today?
- Where could you exercise more influence through relationships?
- Are you focusing too much energy on concerns beyond your influence?
- What small action within your control could you take right now?
2. Coaching Others: Help your team shift from frustration to action. Use these powerful questions:
- “What aspects of this situation can you control?”
- “Where might you have more influence than you realise?”
- “How could you expand your influence in this situation?”
3. Team Application:
- Collectively map your circles of control and influence.
- Identify opportunities for expanding influence through collaboration.
- Focus energy on high-impact areas within your control.
- Regularly review and celebrate progress.
At Catapult, we equip leaders with practical frameworks like this through our leadership development programmes. Whether you’re in government, business, or the non-profit sector, understanding and applying your Circle of Influence will help you lead with clarity and impact.
Explore our leadership programmes and expand your impact today.