Communicating EffectivelyInfluencing
Communicate with IMPACT
Communicate with IMPACT
5 minutes
The IMPACT framework by Patrick Donadio is a practical executive communication tool designed to make sure your message is heard, understood and leads to the right action.
IMPACT helps you plan what you want to say, tailor it to your audience, check for understanding, and guide conversations toward clear outcomes.
Used consistently, it strengthens executive presence by helping you deliver focused messages, handle challenging discussions with confidence, and influence decisions in a calm, credible way.
I
Intention (Why)
Start with purpose.
Before you speak, pause and get clear:
• What do I want to achieve?
• What outcome am I aiming for?
• What do I want the other person to think, feel or do?
Your intention shapes everything that follows – the tone you use, the message you craft and the direction of the conversation. Without a clear intention, communication can lose direction. When intention is clear, conversations stay focused.
Summarise your intention in one sentence before you begin:
“My intention today is to agree on priorities for the quarter.”
Before you speak, pause and get clear:
• What do I want to achieve?
• What outcome am I aiming for?
• What do I want the other person to think, feel or do?
Your intention shapes everything that follows – the tone you use, the message you craft and the direction of the conversation. Without a clear intention, communication can lose direction. When intention is clear, conversations stay focused.
Summarise your intention in one sentence before you begin:
“My intention today is to agree on priorities for the quarter.”
M
Message (What)
Define your core message.
Ask yourself:
• What is the main point I need to land?
• What information is essential?
• What detail can I leave out?
A strong message is simple, structured and easy to follow. Too much information can dilute your impact. Focus on the few key ideas that truly matter to your intention.
Outcome:
Aim to capture your message in two or three clear bullet points rather than a long explanation.
Ask yourself:
• What is the main point I need to land?
• What information is essential?
• What detail can I leave out?
A strong message is simple, structured and easy to follow. Too much information can dilute your impact. Focus on the few key ideas that truly matter to your intention.
Outcome:
Aim to capture your message in two or three clear bullet points rather than a long explanation.
P
Person (Who)
Tailor the message to your audience.
Consider:
• Who am I communicating with?
• What matters most to them?
• How do they prefer to receive information – big picture or detail, direct or collaborative?
Adapting your approach to the person in front of you increases understanding and influence. The same message may need to be delivered differently depending on the audience.
Frame your message from their perspective: “What this means for you is…”
Consider:
• Who am I communicating with?
• What matters most to them?
• How do they prefer to receive information – big picture or detail, direct or collaborative?
Adapting your approach to the person in front of you increases understanding and influence. The same message may need to be delivered differently depending on the audience.
Frame your message from their perspective: “What this means for you is…”
A
Message (What)
Define your core message.
Ask yourself:
• What is the main point I need to land?
• What information is essential?
• What detail can I leave out?
A strong message is simple, structured and easy to follow. Too much information can dilute your impact. Focus on the few key ideas that truly matter to your intention.
Outcome:
Aim to capture your message in two or three clear bullet points rather than a long explanation.
Ask yourself:
• What is the main point I need to land?
• What information is essential?
• What detail can I leave out?
A strong message is simple, structured and easy to follow. Too much information can dilute your impact. Focus on the few key ideas that truly matter to your intention.
Outcome:
Aim to capture your message in two or three clear bullet points rather than a long explanation.
C
Clarify (Check Understanding)
Make sure your message is understood and you’re aligned.
Don’t assume understanding or alignment – test it. Ask questions like:
• How will I check that my message has been understood?
• What questions can I ask to confirm alignment?
• What assumptions might need to be surfaced?
Many communication problems happen because people move on too quickly. Clarifying ensures you are truly aligned before progressing.
Use simple check-in questions such as:
• “Can I check I’ve explained that clearly? What’s your take?”
• “Can I check we’re on the same page?”
• “How does that sound from your perspective? Is there anything that doesn’t feel clear?”
Don’t assume understanding or alignment – test it. Ask questions like:
• How will I check that my message has been understood?
• What questions can I ask to confirm alignment?
• What assumptions might need to be surfaced?
Many communication problems happen because people move on too quickly. Clarifying ensures you are truly aligned before progressing.
Use simple check-in questions such as:
• “Can I check I’ve explained that clearly? What’s your take?”
• “Can I check we’re on the same page?”
• “How does that sound from your perspective? Is there anything that doesn’t feel clear?”
T
Transform (Action)
Finish with clear next steps.
Before the conversation ends, be specific:
• What needs to be done?
• Who will do it?
• When will it be done?
If actions aren’t clear, nothing changes. Use the last minute of every conversation to lock in next steps and make sure everyone leaves knowing exactly what they are responsible for.
Close the conversation by summarising the action needed:
• “So the next step is…”
• “You’ll do X by Friday, and I’ll do Y by Monday.”
• “So the next step we’ve agreed is that….”
Before the conversation ends, be specific:
• What needs to be done?
• Who will do it?
• When will it be done?
If actions aren’t clear, nothing changes. Use the last minute of every conversation to lock in next steps and make sure everyone leaves knowing exactly what they are responsible for.
Close the conversation by summarising the action needed:
• “So the next step is…”
• “You’ll do X by Friday, and I’ll do Y by Monday.”
• “So the next step we’ve agreed is that….”
Communication doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. When you follow IMPACT, you bring focus, structure and direction to every conversation – and that’s what turns talk into progress.
by
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