Focus on What You Can Control

by Jon Close

May 18, 2026

Leaders lose valuable time when they focus on circumstances outside their control.

In No Ego, Cy Wakeman reminds us that leadership influence grows when we stop resisting reality and begin working productively within it. In my work with leaders, I translate this into a simple discipline: notice reality, name your influence, then choose one next move.

Conditions are not always ideal.
Constraints exist in every organization.

The question leaders must continually ask is:

"Given the reality of this situation, what is the most constructive action forward?"

Influential leaders focus their attention on what they can influence, not what they wish were different.

This Week's Practice

When facing a difficult challenge, divide the situation into two columns:

Things I cannot control.
Things I can influence.

Direct your time and energy towards the second column

Your calm Leadership growth accelerates when we spend less time describing problems and more time contributing to solutions.

DISC Insight - Control and influence.

D - Dominance

Your drive for results may lead to frustrations with constraints. Focused on leveraging the resources you have.

I - Inspiring

You may seek consensus before action. Focus on taking practical steps forward even when everything is not fully aligned.

S - Support

You may wish circumstances were calmer or more stable. Focus on steady progress within current realities.

C- Cautious

You may resist acting until all variables are known. Focus on moving forward with the best information available. Act at 80% clarity to allow you to define a decision and move forward.

Bottom Line:

Leadership influence grows when attention shifts from what we cannot control to what we can improve.

Great Leaders Develop Independent Thinkers

The ultimate goal of leadership is not dependence. It is independence. When leaders develop capable, confident individuals who can think, decide, and act responsibly, the organization becomes stronger. Ken Blanchard’s situational leadership model ultimately leads to people who can lead themselves. This is the mark of effective leadership development. This Week’s Practice Encourage independent ...

Delegation Multiplies Leadership

Eventually, team members reach a stage where they are both capable and confident. At this point, the leader’s role shifts to delegation – low direction and low ongoing support, with high trust and clear outcomes. Delegation means trusting people to take ownership of responsibility while remaining available for support. Ken Blanchard reminds us that leaders who fail to delegate eventually limit ...

Leaders Give Opportunity, Not Just Instruction

Leadership development rarely happens through instruction alone. It happens through experience. John C. Maxwell teaches that leaders must give people opportunities to try, learn, adjust, and improve if they want growth to be real, not theoretical. When leaders only provide direction but never opportunity, growth remains theoretical. Opportunity turns knowledge into leadership ability. This Wee...