ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the impact-influence trade off, as well considers how a circle of concern isn't always the same as a circle of influence. It shows how to increase both the impact and influence through being reflexive and through effective discernment. Making a difference is all about yielding influence. Influence is the power or capacity to cause an effect in indirect or intangible ways, whereas impact is a marked effect, more often direct and usually focused on a smaller area of control. Influence is an essential skill for leaders, and it requires confidence, clarity of purpose and the communication skills to fully express the information needed to direct change. Intelligence is a long-debated construct, but it can be measured by different quotients to indicate the presence of different characteristics. For SENCOs the area of control is whole-school responsibility. The area of concern will always be larger than the area of influence.
