I hear it all the time - leaders talking about making an impact, driving change, and shaping the future.

It’s easy to imagine impactful leadership as a bold, inspiring force - powered by sheer passion and determination. A visionary leader at the helm, rallying others towards a better future. Someone who just knows how to make things happen.

But in reality, making an impact isn’t just about vision - it’s about execution.

Because change is also boring.

It’s about planning. Execution. The details no one talks about in TED Talks or glossy leadership books. The reality is, making an impact is as much about discipline, persistence, and process as it is about vision.

The leaders who create real, lasting change? They aren’t just dreamers - they are doers.

The Eight Core Areas of Impact

Through our work at The Change Arc, we’ve identified eight key areas that determine how ready a leader or team is to drive meaningful change.

💡 Visionary Leadership

Can you set a clear direction and inspire people to follow it?

🧠 Strategic Management

Can you plan effectively and make strong, informed decisions?

🎨 Creative Innovation

Are you open to new ideas, able to challenge assumptions, and take smart risks?

🎤 Influential Communication

Can you engage and persuade people, bringing them with you?

💪 Resilience

When things go wrong, do you bounce back quickly and stay focused?

📚 Knowledge & Experience

Are you leveraging what you know and continuously learning?

🔄 Resource Management

Can you manage time, budgets, and people effectively?

🌍 Ethical Leadership

Are you values-driven, inclusive, and transparent in your leadership?

No one is great at all of these. Some leaders naturally excel at big-picture thinking but struggle with execution. Others are incredible problem-solvers but struggle to get buy-in from those around them.

What matters most isn’t where you’re strong or where you struggle. What matters is knowing where you are right now—so you can build from there.

Introducing the Impact Readiness Index: A Tool to Help You To Cut Through the Noise

Most leadership advice focuses on what you should be doing - but without any real insight into what you actually need to work on. That’s why we're working to develop the Impact Readiness Index.

It’s designed to give leaders and teams a clear, structured look at where they are strong, where they need to develop, and what practical steps they can take to increase their influence and impact.

Because making an impact isn’t about inspiration alone—it’s about having the right mix of skills, structure, and support to actually deliver.

The Impact Readiness Index is currently in testing phase and will be launching very soon.

A little about The Change Arc:

Through our work, we help leaders and teams build the core elements they need to increase their influence and impact. We support them to sharpen their leadership approach, develop their messaging and strategy, and put in place the practical tools to not just lead change, but deliver it.  Find out more about how we work with leaders and teams at The Change Arc.

About the Author

Iain Fowler is the Co-Founder of The Change Arc, helping leaders and teams build influence and impact. With a background in strategy, leadership development, and communication, he works with leaders to define and activate value, sharpen their leadership brand, and deliver real-world results.