Empower Yourself, Influence Your Village, Inspire the World
I am a big fan of the 'triple bottom line' concept developed by John Elkington (a British management consultant, in 1994). The concept of the 'triple bottom line' shifts the paradigm of business success away from purely being about profit by incorporating social and environmental responsibilities.
Back in the olden days (circa 2000) when I came across the triple bottom line concept it immediately tickled my imagination. At the time I was the national training manager for a wholesale retail clothing company which gave me the perfect petri dish to begin experimenting. Having access to leaders across all levels of the company provided a great opportunity to introduce concepts then track changes, to see what worked well and continuously improve our systems. I have to admit to absolutely zero incorporation of the full 'triple bottom line' at corporate level, these guys were only focussed on the money. But I had overwhelming success with the 'people' element which lead to surprise surprise - increased sales. So I played to the strengths and kept developing the profit through people aspect.
Through observing the limited version of TBL concept, I noticed something in my own leadership and those who I mentored. By adapting the principles of TBL from a personal perspective we had ourselves a triple winning formula I have since dubbed the '3 rings of success'.
I have taken this 3 rings concept and implemented it in every role I have had since then with great success (except for that job I had for 6 weeks at the beginning of Covid, don't check my Linkedin, I erased it hoping to never think of it again).
Maybe the '3 rings' is more of a framework than a formula, I don't know - lets take a closer look and you can tell me at the end if its a formula or framework.
What I can tell you is that it is a highly effective personal and organisational leadership philosophy that ties personal development to larger societal benefits, where each rings is connected and enhances the next. I have found this formula motivates leaders and gives them a clear road map for how their personal actions can lead to widespread change.
The 3 rings are EMPOWER | INFLUENCE | INSPIRE.
At an implementation level they interact as My Self, My Village and My Impact.
The essential functioning of the rings is about how we approach our life and leadership.
The briefest explanation I can give you is that everything starts with us, by empowering our mind body and soul we can more effectively influence our Village. We can provide positive leadership within our teams and community which results in an inspire impact on our business and the planet. You might want to download my FREE RESOURCE called 'Triple Winning Formula' to get you started.
EMPOWER My Self: body ~ mind ~ soul
INFLUENCE My Village: leader ~ team ~ society
INSPIRE My Impact: people ~ profit ~ planet
EMPOWER My Body: body ~ mind ~ soul
The foundation circle of success is all about you – EMPOWERing ourselves through by enhancing our physical and mental health, creating a success mindset and aligning our ambitions with our values. From this strong foundation, you will discover your authentic leadership style will flow naturally without the stress and burnout of trying hard to get it right.
How can we empower ourselves? How can we set ourselves up for success not burnout?
Mind –
Daily Mindfulness Practice: Start the day with 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation to enhance focus and reduce stress. Use guided apps like Headspace or Calm to assist in developing a consistent habit. Yoga is one of my favourite morning practices, followed by coffee and chat with my garden.
Scheduled Reflection Time: Block out time weekly in your calendar for self-reflection. Use this time to assess accomplishments, set new goals, and identify areas for improvement. A friend of mine has a designated 'sit space' nestled in nature, or you might like to try a Gratitude Walk for a similar outcome and bonus movement.
Educational Podcasts: Listen to podcasts or audiobooks on topics of personal and professional growth during your commute or while exercising to foster continuous learning.
Body -
Regular Physical Activity: Incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical exercise into your daily routine. Whether it’s a morning jog, cycling, or a home workout session, find an activity that you enjoy and stick to it. Incidental movement and regular stretches through the day are great bonus movement practices.
Ergonomic Workspaces: Set up your workspace to support your posture and reduce strain. Consider standing desks or ergonomic chairs and ensure that the computer screen is at eye level.
Healthy Eating Habits: Plan and prepare healthy meals that fuel the body for high performance. Don't follow the latest TicToc or Insta trends, discover what's healthy for your body, consider consulting a nutritionist to tailor a diet plan that suits your specific health needs.
Soul -
Value Alignment Exercises: Regularly engage in exercises that help you identify and reflect on your core values. This could be through journaling or discussing with a mentor or coach to ensure your daily actions reflect these values. Check out my article on Values plus the free resource.
Community Engagement: Allocate time monthly to volunteer or engage in community service. This provides a delicious sense of purpose and fulfillment, strengthening your soul.
Creative Outlets: Engage in a creative hobby like painting, writing, or playing music. This can be a therapeutic activity that nurtures the soul and develops creative thinking in leadership. If you're not sure how your creative outlet supports your leadership, take notice of all the steps in your hobby and find a link back to your leadership. e.g. I'm a knitter. Knitting requires slowing down (presence), attention to detail, completion, problem solving (if you have ever dropped a stitch...), working within budget, working with resources, and I could go on.
INFLUENCE My Village: leader ~ team ~ society
Extending our circle of success to the people we lead, our village, our team, our tribe – the ones who follow us, who get the tasks done, the ones who stick with us through the good times and the tough times. We INFLUENCE our village to achieve massive outcomes through conscious leadership, healthy team development and giving back to society.
Leadership Development Programs: Suggest specific leadership development programs or frameworks that focus on emotional intelligence, ethical leadership, and effective communication.
Team Empowerment Strategies: Detail strategies to empower teams, such as creating inclusive environments, promoting diversity, and implementing participative decision-making processes.
Community Engagement: Outline ways leaders can give back to society, like volunteering, corporate social responsibility initiatives, or partnerships with non-profits. Highlight the importance of building a legacy that positively influences the broader community.
Leader –
your authentic leadership style and purposeful vision/ message will influence your village to follow you through the tough times and the good times. As a leader you will provide an environment where people want to come together and do their best work.
Emotional Intelligence Training: Enroll in courses or workshops that focus on developing emotional intelligence, which is crucial for understanding and managing your own emotions and those of others around you.
Vision Sharing Sessions: Regularly communicate your vision and mission to your team through dedicated sessions. This transparency helps build trust and ensures everyone is aligned with the organisation's goals.
Ethical Leadership Practices: Commit to high standards of ethics and integrity. Demonstrate these values in daily decisions and interactions, setting a strong example for your team. Recognise publicly when your team demonstrates ethical choices.
Team –
Inclusive Environment: Actively work to create an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued. Implement initiatives like diversity training and multicultural celebrations to enhance team cohesion.
Participative Decision-Making: Encourage team involvement in decision-making processes to foster a sense of ownership and empowerment. Use tools like brainstorming sessions and collaborative platforms where team members can contribute ideas and feedback.
Skill Development Opportunities: Provide your team with continuous learning opportunities by offering access to training, workshops, and seminars that enhance their professional skills and personal growth. Be role model and share your current learnings with the team, build a culture of life long learners.
Society –
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiatives: Go beyond the buzz word, develop a CSR strategy that genuinely align with your company’s values and mission. Initiatives could include environmental sustainability programs, supporting local businesses, or engaging in community development projects.
Volunteering Programs: Organise company-wide volunteering days where employees can give back to the community, create team bonding and enhancing your company’s societal impact. Recognise and congratulate the volunteer work your team personally engage in, all the little contributions to our community make us better on so may levels.
Partnerships with Non-Profits: Establish short and long-term partnerships with non-profit organisations that resonate with your company’s values. Engage in joint ventures that contribute to social causes, enhancing your brand’s legacy and community ties. Consider something as simple as a blood donation drive through to a weekly commitment to staffing a food van.
INSPIRE My Impact: people ~ profit ~ planet
The final ring in the circle of success is one of the toughest to achieve when you are busy in the business. But stepping out of the busy-ness and taking a moment to look at your business through the lens of your purposeful ambition, you will see a range of inspired possibilities open up just waiting for you to take a big step up.
How will you INSPIRE people? How can you maximise your profits so you can have an even greater impact and inspire others to do the same? How will your business reduce it’s impact on our planet and inspire others to tread lightly every day?
People –
Employee Development Programs: Invest in comprehensive training programs that not only enhance skills but also boost morale and job satisfaction. This could include leadership training, technical skill enhancement, and personal development workshops. Encourage your team to find programs for their future career, not just now.
Community Engagement Initiatives: Build a strong community connection by initiating outreach programs or supporting local community events. This supports the community, enhances your company’s image and employee pride.
Well-being and Inclusivity Policies: Implement policies that promote a healthy life balance and inclusivity. Flexible working hours, remote working options, and health and wellness programs can make your company a desirable place to work. This is another area for role modelling, check your own work practices, evaluate your personal and work boundaries, are you demonstrating being well at work?
Profit –
Profit Reinvestment: Channel a portion of profits back into the business to fuel growth and broaden your social impact. This could involve expanding into new markets, developing new products, or enhancing existing services to meet higher standards of social responsibility. One idea that I love is having a budget allocation per team member/ department to spend (without prior approval) on innovation. It might only be $100 to test or trial an idea, but it empowers every member of your team to be part of the solution.
Innovative Product Development: Focus on creating products or services that meet customer needs in a way that differentiates your business in the marketplace. Innovation can open up new revenue streams and increase profitability. Ask your team how the organisation could do better. Ask your customers how they want to use your service/ product.
Strategic Partnerships: Form alliances with other businesses or organisations that can offer complementary strengths or market access. Such partnerships can lead to shared resources, reduced costs, and increased profits.
Planet -
Sustainable Resource Use: Implement practices that reduce waste and improve energy efficiency in your operations. Consider sourcing renewable energy, optimising production processes to minimise waste, or investing in energy-efficient technologies.Encourage your team to find ways sustaible practices within their roles and projects.
Green Product Lines: Develop products that have a minimal environmental impact, such as using sustainable or recycled materials. Please be conscious of greenwashing during the development of new lines. Take the extra care and effort to ensure your products are genuinely better for our people and planet, not just marketed to feel that way.
Environmental Goals and Reporting: Set clear environmental performance targets and regularly report on these goals. This transparency can inspire confidence in stakeholders and motivate your team to achieve these targets.
Interconnecting our rings
It all starts with us, the leader. When we focus on personal growth—physical, mental, and spiritual— we develop a strong sense of self-awareness, resilience, and authenticity. This self-empowerment becomes the core or foundation from which the next success rings can grow.
Empowered individuals are better equipped to lead by example. We know who we are and how we do it, we have vision and purpose. Being crystal clear on who we are as a leaders makes it easier to follow.
Our personal integrity, confidence, and clarity of vision makes us magnetic and inspirational, people want to be with us. Being surrounded by passionate, like minded people (no yes men) we can effectively build and nurture teams, we can create a culture where every member feels valued and motivated to contribute to shared goals. When we show genuine commitment to our teams values and well-being, they naturally cultivate trust and respect which are essential ingredients for influential leadership.
Our growth as an empowered leader of passionate, motivated teams allows us to extend our influence beyond the immediate organisational boundaries. The individuals in our teams engage in practices that prioritise sustainability and social responsibility, which has the flow on effect to our communities, creating a wave of positive change that benefits our business and the planet.
And it all began because you chose to be leader who truly made a difference.
A difference to yourself, your village and the world. Thank you.
So - is it a system, framework or formula?
Let me know your thoughts or drop a question below,
Linda x
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