Using Principles to Create Leverage and Make an Impact

"If you give me a lever and a place to stand, I can move the world." – Archimedes

If you are anything like me, you are driven to make an impact. However, making an impact requires a lot of effort, and it can be challenging to keep working at it. Sometimes it feels like we are constantly working but not making any progress.

The question is: How can we change the tide in our favor? How do we get more impact with less effort? It all comes down to?leverage. When I think of leverage, I think of the quote above from the Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor, Archimedes,?"If you give me a lever and a place to stand, I can move the world."?Leverage is an advantage for accomplishing a goal, and the best way to do that is to apply well-thought-out and established principles. This is not about being rigid; it is about maximizing your mental energy so you can optimize your effort.

How exactly does applying principles create leverage? Well, let's look at an example.?Amazon?has 14 leadership principles (check them out?here) that serve as the foundation for aligning leaders and setting expectations for organizational performance. Of course, everyone brings unique attributes that directly influence their leadership style, but leadership principles are the common denominator for how leaders are expected to show up in the organization and represent their culture. Here are a few of their principles:

• Have a Customer Obsession:?The company pledges to put customers first at all times, earning their trust in the process.
• Take Ownership:?Leaders need to think of themselves as owners of what they do. Every action they take, both big and small, reflects on the company in some way.
• Invent and Simplify:?Amazon?prides itself on innovation, so the company expects its leaders to get creative when finding solutions.

When a leader or employee knows what should drive their behaviors, it takes the guesswork out of the equation and makes decision-making easier. This approach works well for?Amazon, but it can also be applied in a small organization, a team, or even for your own personal efforts to make an impact. I have used this approach myself and with my clients for years, and I assure you it works.

So, what principles can you think of that would provide the leverage you need to make a meaningful impact? I would love to hear some of your ideas.

Be sure to tune into these featured episodes of The Virtual Campfire Podcast !

Everybody in the world today is busy building their wealth, pursuing a lucrative career, or maintaining a successful business. With so many people becoming too self-centered and isolated, human connection seems like a dying concept. But for ???? Ben Baker??? , CEO of I AM BenBaker , the true meaning of everyday life is found in taking care of each other. In this episode, he looks back on his journey from high-tech sales to the direct mail business and shares how prioritizing the human element can elevate a brand, empower a team, and communicate value. Tune in now!

What’s the most powerful type of leadership? It’s to lead from behind. The guest on this episode is Kelly Wendorf, an ICF Master Certified Coach and Founder of EQUUS. Kelly talks about how leading from behind is the emotional, psychic, and spiritual position you take to push others out so they can shine! Kelly also shares her passion for horses, which are the inspiration for her book Flying Lead Change: 56 Million Years of Wisdom for Leading and Living. Tune in and learn how to lead from behind!