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Some interesting questions to address. My intuitive response is to think about what has impacted me the most. Maybe my favourite speaker is Ben Zander (you can find his talk at Ted.com). Watching him in action, what i see is:

Passion
Conviction
Implementation

I’m not sure about truth as a factor – it is such a subjective concept.

Thanks for listening,

Phil

Simplicity and truth are really signposts back to me not to over-complicate things. Often as an idea is forming, I have used my conversations with others to develop my thoughts – and this can lead to me over-complicating things as I search through the sea of words for the golden nugget.

Your formula of research and planning is something I need to embrace.

Best to you, Robin

You’re a man of impact, and it’s easy to see how your way of being makes you so. Your ‘way of being’ delivers joy – and surely shared joy must be the ultimate path to impact.

Curiously, I notice that your openness to the views of others, your ceaseless curiosity and compassion for fellow travellers means that you’re allowing life to impact you – to touch and influence you. This must be part of what makes you a successful leader.

Best, Robin

Trey’s way-of-being:
listen + watch + question + seek to understand + explore beneath + envision beyond + exhort to envision + encourage to embark + embark together = joy

It never ceases to amaze me what fascinating things come into view with ample listening, questioning, exploring. Somehow a once-hidden opportunity or success-opening jumps up.

Don’t know that I met your criteria for simplicity.

After reading your first comment, the communication aspects you mention would, for me, be a key part of implementation i.e. the ‘how’ of implementation – so we end up with…

Impact = simple truth, well executed.

I’m sure I’ve read that somewhere in advertising??

Underlying this discussion is my dislike of the enormous degree of complication and verbage used my people to express their point of view.

It’s something I’ve struggled myself with for years.

Hence my impact formula is a big reminder to Robin Dickinson to really distill down the idea to a simple truth and then execute it well.

I wanted to put this topic out there for this community to generate a bit of discussion and get better distinctions.

So thanks for your excellent distinctions.

Robin

Maxwell’s things is that leadership is synonymous with influence. He’s very good at providing “17 laws of teamwork” and “21 rules of leadership”. His impact is more like:

Simple Truth + Anecdotal Examples + Ways to implement = Impact

Mine?

Shock + Depth + Action + Purpose = Impact

I think…

It’s interesting – because now looking back, I can see that you’re formula is very much about who you are as well….

So here we have an excellent demonstration of the impact you have:

‘truth’ – eloquently expressed in your comment,

‘simplicity’ – expressed directly and to the point,

‘implementation’ – you responded!

This has impacted me.

Of course, to your point, there are many paths to impact. That’s what interests me the most. I’m a student of impact.

You mentioned John Maxwell as a thought leader who focuses highly on relational leadership. (http://www.radsmarts.com/2010/01/building-relationships-a-question-of-quality-over-quantity/) – what would you say is his ‘impact formula’?

And whilst I think of it, what would you say yours is?

Best, Robin

Time to disagree!!!

I think IMPACT is the heart of the beholder – and certainly for me, impact has connotations of shock, surprise, suspense – far more experiential words.

Truth + Simplicity + Implementation = well, not much, unless you add “good communication” in there.

And even then, this lacks things like INFLUENCE, MOTIVATION, PASSION, all of which are needed to get an idea off the ground in the first place.

Now yeah, sure, truth + simplicity + implementation is a darn sight more than you are getting most places online, where the formula takes the angle of half-truth + fluff + same-old communication style = don’t even look at it

If we are really talking about connection here, then there’s a different set of words I’d like to see here instead.

Meaning
Motivation
Camaraderie
Purpose
Influence
Leadership

That’s what you’ve taught me at least

Looking forward to chatting it through,
Scott

If I have to use three words, I would use this formula”
Research + Plan + Execute = Impact.