How to Be Contagious

Creating an “intentional impact” requires clarifying your intended outcomes and desired emotional effect.

Whether you’re attending a work meeting or an employee feedback session, or having a job interview or a tough conversation with your spouse or child, creating an “intentional impact” is central to gaining positive results. To cultivate your intentional impact, clarify the following five questions: What outcomes do you intend to reach? What emotional impact do you desire to have? How do you have to show up? What do you need to believe? What are the next steps you must take?

First, to get clear on what outcomes you intend to achieve, think of one to three solid results you hope will come from the interaction. 

Second, consider the emotional impact your interaction has on the other person as well as on you. For example, imagine you’re giving feedback to your employees. How do you want them to feel? It’s likely you want them to feel cared for, and to know that the feedback is in service of their higher growth. You want them to feel heard, and that they know you believe in them. Then, ask yourself how you want to feel. Probably useful and helpful...