Harvard Business Review LogoJulie GuillemAs formal authority becomes less effective in modern organizations, leaders increasingly face the challenge of influencing outcomes without direct control. So, they must learn to exert indirectMost leaders eventually hit the same wall. They may have a position, a title, and a winning track record, but at some point they will need to mobilize people who aren’t their direct reports, won’t be able to provide input into key decisions, or won’t have control over their budgets.
5 Ways to Wield Influence When You Lack Authority
As formal authority becomes less effective in modern organizations, leaders increasingly face the challenge of influencing outcomes without direct control. So, they must learn to exert indirect influence in five ways: identifying hidden power brokers who shape decisions; using discreet back channels to defuse conflict and build alignment; carefully timing interventions to individual and organizational readiness; cultivating networks of connections who can help solve problems; and reading emotional and social cues to surface unspoken concerns and guide action. Across these approaches, the central idea is to create conditions in which others choose to act rather than feeling compelled to comply.
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