Meta's most asked question: 'What's the impact?'

When I joined Meta, a company known for its fast pace and unique culture, the word "impact" was inescapable. Initially, it felt like corporate jargon. But the more I got immersed in the culture, the more I discovered its significance. Asking "what's the impact?" became more than a question; it turned into a guiding principle for both work and life.

#The impact factor

In a world where juggling multiple tasks is the norm, and there's always more work than you can do, you have to prioritize. Asking "which work is more impactful?" before taking anything on changes what you say yes to. But the question doesn't stop there. It's also crucial to understand the impact on different stakeholders - customers, your team, other teams, and most importantly, yourself.

#How do you measure impact?

The challenge lies in quantifying it. How do you compare two different initiatives unless you have metrics that say one is more valuable than the other?

Some example metrics that can guide the quantification:

• Difficulty of execution. Straightforward, or does it need skills the team doesn't have yet?
• Time to completion. A quick win, a quarter, a half-year, or a long-term investment?
• Resource allocation. A couple of people, a whole team, or several teams across orgs?
• Confidence in success. How sure are you, and what would sink it?

Metrics like these help you make more informed decisions, and keep you focused on the most impactful work.

#Applying it outside work

I've started using the "what's the impact?" mindset in everyday life, too. Sometimes things seem really cool or urgent, but when you dig a little deeper you realize they're not actually that important - or they are, but there are more important things at hand. By focusing on what really matters, I've found I can make much better use of my time.

So: are you working on the most impactful thing from the options you have? And how do you measure the impact of your work?