Seeing the Bigger Picture

Over the past few months, more than 100 purpose-led leaders have taken our Impact Readiness Index™ (IRI). We built it as a reflection tool: 40 quick questions, five minutes to complete, and an instant personalised report with feedback and tips.

It’s not a test. It’s a mirror, showing where you feel steady, where things are stretched, and where small shifts could unlock bigger impact.

The Index is based on our Impact Model™ : Eight areas we believe matter most if you want to turn ambition into lasting outcomes: vision, fairness, decision-making, resources, expertise, creativity, resilience and communication.

In Part 1, we shared some of the early themes that jumped out: tougher conversations being avoided, decisions dragging, recovery often skipped, and the basics of time and money slipping through the cracks.

Here in Part 2, we look at some of the other patterns that emerged from the first 100 responses, and what they mean in practice.

New Insights Emerging

Expertise on tap, but not always turned into influence

• Many leaders said they are often seen as the go-to person in their field. Confidence in knowledge and experience was one of the strongest results across the Index. But far fewer said they consistently turn that expertise into influence through clear decisions, strong systems, or by bringing others with them.

Why it matters: Knowledge without influence is wasted potential. The opportunity is to spread credibility and insight so it moves the whole team forward, not just the individual.

Ideas flowing, but breakthroughs stall

• Leaders rated themselves highly on generating new ideas and being open to learning. But fewer said they consistently take risks or squeeze the most from limited resources when things are tough. That gap suggests ideas are sparked but don’t always make it into delivery.

Why it matters: Innovation isn’t missing, but the follow-through is. Without it, progress slows and opportunities slip away. The opportunity is to back the few ideas that matter most and carry them through to results people can see.

Problem-solving steady, but priorities blur

• Three in four leaders said they often find workable solutions to problems, and many reported being confident in adapting quickly when plans change. Where the results dipped was on prioritising, with fewer saying that they consistently focus on the most important tasks first.

Why it matters: This is how teams end up busy but not effective. Ambition spreads thin, energy leaks away, and progress slows.  The opportunity is sharper decisions that channel energy into what really moves the needle.

The Big Picture

What stands out is that leaders told us they have the intent, the ideas and the expertise. What’s less consistent are the everyday habits that make sure those strengths translate into impact.

That matters because intent and ideas alone don’t deliver outcomes. It’s the practical disciplines of influencing others, following through on ideas, and making clear choices that aslo decide whether progress happens or stalls.

Questions to Consider

If some of this resonates with you, here are three filters worth applying:

1. Sharing expertise
   Am I making sure my knowledge helps others act, or is it staying locked with me?
   
   

2. Turning ideas into action
   Of the ideas we have, which one are we actually going to test or commit to, so something genuinely changes?
   
   

3. Choosing what matters most
   If only three things got done this week, which three would move us forward the most,  and have I protected time for them?
   
   

The Trend and The TCA Impact Model

The first 100 results show us a clear message: ambition doesn’t falter because people lack ideas or knowledge. It falters when everyday habits don’t carry those strengths through to delivery.

The early insights we've seen lead us to believe that the Impact Model is even more crucial than ever. It shows us that impact is never about one single skill or strength. You can have vision, but without resilience it runs out of steam. You can have deep expertise, but without communication it stays stuck with you. You can have great ideas, but without good decisions and systems they never make it off the page.

Real progress comes when all eight areas connect: Purpose, fairness, decisions, resources, expertise, creativity, resilience and communication, all working together. Each plays a different role, and it is the balance between them that turns ambition into something people can see and feel.

The Impact Readiness Index is designed to help you see where that balance looks for you, and where small shifts could unlock much more. It is free, it takes less than five minutes, and you will get a personalised report instantly. If you find it useful, share it with a colleague or a friend. The more people reflect on these habits, the stronger the collective picture becomes, and the closer we all get to turning ambition into impact.

Index link can be found here

The Change Arc helps purpose-led leaders and organisations turn ambition into impact through strategy, communications and leadership development.

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 results.