The Circle of Control, Influence and Concern: A Practical Leadership Model for Sustainable Performance
- Written by: Authentic Leaders Group
One thing we’ve noticed about great leaders? They don’t try to control everything. They’re clear on what is within their control, and they lead from there.
But how do you get to that mindset?
The Circle of Control is a simple leadership model we use to help leaders stay grounded, effective and consistent, especially as expectations grow and complexity increases. It’s not a framework to roll out or a system to manage – just a handy way of thinking that supports better decision-making and more sustainable performance.
The Circle of Control, Influence and Concern explained
This model may feel familiar. It was popularised by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, where he encourages leaders to focus their energy on what they can influence, rather than becoming consumed by everything they’re concerned about.
It’s a deceptively simple idea, and one that feels more relevant than ever.
The model is made up of three nested circles:
- Circle of Control – things you can directly control
- Circle of Influence – things you can influence, even if you don’t control the outcome
- Circle of Concern – things that affect you, but sit outside your control or influence
When pressure is high, many leaders spend most of their energy in the Circle of Concern, worrying about things they care about, but can’t change.
That’s exhausting.
Effective leadership, especially in times like these, is about intentionally shifting energy back into the Circles of Control and Influence.
So, what sits in each circle?
Circle of Control
This is your smallest circle, and where we believe leadership really lives – internally. It’s deeply personal and includes things like:
- Your behaviour and reactions
- How you communicate
- The boundaries you set
- The decisions you make
- How you regulate yourself under pressure
You may not control the environment, but you always control how you show up within it.
Circle of Influence
This is what we reference as external leadership.
It includes things you can shape through relationship, clarity and consistency, such as:
- Team priorities
- Ways of working
- Culture and norms
- Psychological safety
- Focus and energy within the team
You may not control outcomes here, but your influence can make a meaningful difference.
Circle of Concern
This is the widest circle and includes things like:
- The economy
- Global events
- Industry disruption
- Policy changes
- Decisions made elsewhere
These things matter, but they’re not where your energy is best spent.
Why This Matters Right Now
In fast-moving, uncertain environments, leaders often feel pressure to react to everything.
But reacting to everything doesn’t build momentum.
It fragments attention and drains energy.
Covey’s core idea was simple: as leaders invest more energy in what they can influence, that circle grows and their sense of agency, effectiveness and impact grows with it.
A Simple Practice to Try This Week
Take five minutes and ask yourself:
- What’s taking up my energy right now that sits in my Circle of Concern?
- What’s one thing inside my Circle of Control or Influence that would create more clarity or calm?
Then act there.
Often, small, intentional shifts inside your Circle of Influence have a far greater impact than trying to manage everything outside it.
In a world that keeps speeding up, leadership isn’t about controlling the chaos.
It’s about choosing where to place your attention, energy and effort.
That’s how leaders stay grounded.
And that’s how teams perform well, even in noisy times.
