Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence (COI-COC)

Introduction:

COI-COC is described in Stephen Covey’s book ‘The 7 Habits of the Highly Effective People’. Covey observes effective people are ‘proactive’ and not ‘reactive’. They focus on what they can influence and what they can do. This helps them to use their time, energy and efforts effectively. They function better and as a result develop a winning attitude. By contrast, reactive people focus on things over which they have no control or influence. Thus, they misdirect and waste their time, energy and efforts. The desired outcomes do not result, causing frustration, and they end up feeling like losers. Over a period of time, they develop a victim attitude.

He describes two circles. The first is the circle of concern that has our ‘problems’, say, for instance, ‘city traffic’. We do not have any ‘control’ over it as such. The second is the circle of influence that indicates what we can do or how we can ‘influence’ This may include, for instance, using public transport, shifting closer to the work place etc.

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When we make a conscious effort to study our COI and see what we can do, our efforts and time get used in a productive way. On the contrary, only complaining about the situation may not lead us anywhere.