Inner Vision Outer Change: Finding Your Heart of Impact

Author: Yamini Kandpal

How do the threads of our individual lives intertwine to create a meaningful whole? How do we align our personal aspirations with the pressing needs of the world around us? These powerful questions formed the resonant core of Coacharya's "The Heart of Impact: Inner Vision, Outer Change" webinar. The webinar is part of our ongoing "Opening the Inner Eye" series. It was an insightful exploration into prioritizing life goals and, crucially, how to weave our individual purpose into the broader fabric of societal impact.

This engaging session brought together 3 remarkable individuals, each bringing a unique and compelling perspective on navigating this delicate balance. Leading the conversation was Coacharya alumnus Gayatri Krishnamurthy, a seasoned PCC and Leadership Coach. Her skillful facilitation guided our esteemed guests, Matangi Jayaram and Latha Rajan, through a rich discussion drawn from their extensive experiences in the social sector.

Matangi Jayaram, an XLRI alumnus, offered invaluable insights gleaned from her journey transitioning from a successful 13-year corporate career to the development sector in 2008. Her work with impactful international organizations, coupled with her experience working with organizations that focus on good governance, provided a nuanced understanding of creating change within complex systems.

Latha Rajan, a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a co-founder of the pioneering HR services company Ma Foi (now CIEL HR Services), shared her profound understanding of building sustainable impact through entrepreneurship and philanthropic endeavors. Her deep involvement with The Ma Foi Foundation and numerous other organizations dedicated to education, healthcare, and women's empowerment showcased a lifelong commitment to uplifting communities.

Together, Gayatri, Matangi, and Latha delved into the heart of what it means to live a life of purpose-driven impact. Their conversation highlighted pathways for individuals seeking to align their inner vision with tangible outer change, offering practical wisdom and inspiring stories for those striving to make a meaningful difference in the world while staying true to their personal goals.

Navigating the Delicate Balance: Self and Service

In today's interconnected world, the push and pull between our own needs and the needs of others feels increasingly taut. The constant exposure to global challenges, coupled with societal expectations of empathy and action, can create a significant internal struggle. How do we remain grounded in our personal well-being while responding to the urgent calls for contribution and service that resonate within us? This very question was posed to Matangi Jayaram, inviting her to share her experiences navigating this delicate balance within the demanding landscape of the development sector.

Drawing from her years on the ground, Matangi offered a candid reflection on her initial immersion into this field, highlighting several key aspects of her journey:

• Initial Emotional Overwhelm: The early years were marked by intense emotional engagement with the challenges faced by communities.
• Intense Learning and Field Immersion: The first 2-3 years involved significant on-the-ground learning and a deep understanding of the realities.
• Realization of Limitations: There was a crucial understanding that immediate solutions to individual problems were often not feasible.
• Developing "Arm's Length Distance": Learning to maintain a healthy emotional distance from the work was essential for sustainability.
• Integrating Strategy and Problem Solving into Action: The focus evolved from purely altruistic efforts to contributing to systemic and scalable solutions.
• Preventing Burnout: The aim was to contribute effectively without succumbing to emotional exhaustion.
• Gradual Process: Finding this balance was not immediate but took approximately 2.5-3 years of conscious effort and learning.
• Applying Management Principles at Scale: Despite the shift to large-scale programs and diverse teams, fundamental leadership and management principles remained crucial and facilitated objective navigation of complexities.
• Data-Driven Problem Solving: What cannot be measured, can’t be improved either. Matangi underscored the importance of using data and evidence as a foundation for accurately framing problems and developing effective solutions.

This journey highlights the vital importance for individuals in service-oriented fields to proactively develop self-care practices and strategies for long-term engagement. Furthermore, as coaches and mentors, guiding others to identify their "North Star" – that intersection of strengths and passion that provides purpose – can offer significant value.

Weaving Together Work, Purpose, and Life

For many driven individuals, the pursuit of professional goals, personal responsibilities, and a desire to contribute meaningfully to society can often feel like distinct, competing demands. The challenge lies in finding harmony and integration across these different facets of life. Latha Rajan offered a refreshing perspective on this very interplay, drawing from her extensive experience in both the corporate and philanthropic sectors.

Here are some key points from Latha Rajan's insights:

• Integrating Life Spheres: She doesn't see a rigid separation between work, foundation, and family, approaching everything with flexibility.
• Office as Home, Home as Office: Fostering an integrated mindset where these environments can support each other.
• Importance of Support Systems: Building a strong network of support, especially within the family, is crucial.
• Applying Management Principles to Nonprofits: Leveraging management training for effective scaling of social programs.
• Strategic Program Design: Using management principles to design and implement programs for wider impact.
• Tailored Communication: Communicating clearly and adapting style to diverse stakeholders (government, NGOs, communities).
• Focus on Advocacy: Aiming to influence best practices within the development sector.
• Maintaining Organizational Rigor: Ensuring structure and efficiency even with diverse groups.
• Gratification in Transformation: Finding deep reward in witnessing positive change in people's lives.

Reflecting on what she finds most gratifying about her work in the development sector, Latha spoke passionately about witnessing tangible transformation in people's lives. She shared powerful examples, such as training over 50,000 women in livelihood programs, observing students secure meaningful employment that significantly surpassed their parents' annual income, and recognizing the profound impact of seemingly small achievements, like bestowing a first-ever certificate upon a 57-year-old woman. These moments of positive change serve as a constant source of motivation and underscore the deep personal fulfilment derived from her multifaceted contributions.

Charting Your Course: From Inner Vision to Outer Impact

The journey of aligning one's inner vision with the desire to create meaningful outer change, as beautifully illustrated by Matangi and Latha, often involves significant professional transitions and the development of impactful leadership skills. 

At Coacharya, our coach training and leadership development programs are designed to empower individuals to navigate such pivotal moments with clarity and confidence. Coaching provides the tools for deep self-reflection, helping you prioritize your values and life goals, while leadership development equips you with the strategic thinking and communication skills necessary to drive meaningful impact, whether you're considering a shift in your professional trajectory or seeking to amplify your influence within your current field. Discover how Coacharya can support you in charting your unique course towards a life of purpose and impact. Write to us at support@coacharya.com or visit our website to schedule a free consultation.