The fourth post in a six-part series on finding meaning in your managerial role.
As managers, we juggle countless responsibilities, but not everything we do creates the same level of impact. In this post, we’ll explore how asking the right questions can help you discover where your influence is strongest—and how to focus your energy on areas that bring the most value.
Step One: Ask Yourself – What Truly Matters to Me?
To identify where your impact is greatest, start by asking a simple question: What’s most important to me in my role?
Is it developing your team? Achieving results? Solving complex problems?
Ask yourself: Which aspects of my role make me feel the most significant?
Example: If you find that developing your team is what matters most to you, your greatest impact might come from one-on-one conversations or professional development initiatives.
Step Two: Ask Others – How Do I Help You?
Sometimes, the clearest view of our impact comes from the people around us. Ask your team members, peers, or even clients:
“What do you think I do that brings the most value?”
You might be surprised by what they say.
Example: A team member might tell you that the guidance you gave them on a tough project made a huge difference—highlighting an area where your influence is particularly strong.
Step Three: Evaluate How You Spend Your Time
Reflect on your time. Where are you investing the most effort, and does it align with what truly matters to you?
Simple exercise: Review your past week and highlight the moments when your impact felt the strongest.
Example: You might discover that while you spent hours on emails, a single team meeting led to a significant breakthrough.
Step Four: Focus on Where You Make the Greatest Impact
Once you’ve identified where your influence is strongest, plan how to focus more time and energy on those areas. This doesn’t mean neglecting other responsibilities, but rather prioritizing what brings the most value.
Example: If your greatest impact comes from mentoring your team, schedule regular one-on-one or group sessions to nurture those connections.
To Summarize the Post
Asking the right questions is the key to discovering where your influence as a manager is strongest. By focusing on what truly matters, you’ll not only become more effective but also find deeper meaning in your role.
In the next post, we’ll explore how to turn challenges into opportunities and create meaning even in the most difficult moments.
Heart of Management 
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