Making a Difference

by Dr. Denise Trudeau Poskas

One of the most common phrases in leadership and followership is “I want to make a difference” or “I do this to make a difference”.  What exactly are we saying or wanting, really?  This is wonderful statement, yet it is generic.  Think about it.  Ordering a pizza when you are hungry makes a difference, taking a dog for a walk makes a wonderful difference, or even getting groceries makes a difference.  Yet are these not simply differences we all need to make? 

Thus, I suspect and have seen plenty of evidence from clients that for most leaders and active followers “making a difference” is something more.  The question needs to be “what difference do I want to make it the world and how exactly is that difference measured?”. 

For example we can make a positive difference in all the people I meet by encouraging their potential, speaking a language of positivity, and asking good questions.  That statement of making a difference is very measurable and indeed very impactful.  “Positive difference” infers that your difference has integrity, a good outcome and is for benefit of others.  That distinction alone is a great start! 

Yet there is more of course, for you can make a positive impact in so many ways.  Referring back to the sample statement “in all the people I meet”  yield to the extent this positive impact will be. One could make the extent smaller or bigger.  At the same time, it produces a certain responsibility in the person saying it.  That it is their responsibility to directly have a positive impact with co-workers, neighbors, family, friends etc.  Not a small goal.

Finally, making a difference means you can define how that difference actually looks.  Thus our sample statement does exactly that “encouraging their potential, speaking a language of positivity, and asking good questions.”  If you are going to “make a difference” know how you are going to do that.  How will you interact? What language will you use?  How will you show up?  How will you think? What will be your metaphor for life?

Moving forward, as you choose to become the best person, best leader you strive to be, consider how you will choose to make a difference and reflect on how exactly that looks!  Having a clear vision of that can be a concrete statement or two as just shown.  It makes the difference of making a difference and being that difference.  The latter demonstrates a vision of influence.