Increasing Your Influence

During my career, I have witnessed incredible leadership at all levels of organizations. From a forklift operator averting a warehouse crisis to customer service team members advocating for the voice of the customer to the operations manager meeting his team where they were most effectively influenced. I'd argue that influence is a key component of leadership. Influence isn’t about titles - it’s about trust.

Some of the most effective people I’ve ever worked with didn’t have formal authority. They didn’t manage big teams or have an executive title. But they knew how to influence. They asked the right questions. They listened before they spoke. They built relationships across the organization - and earned trust one conversation at a time.

Influencing without authority is a quiet skill that drives real progress. It’s what moves projects forward when resources are tight, priorities compete, and everyone’s pulling in different directions. Because people don’t follow job titles - they follow people they trust.

If you can communicate clearly, show consistency, and connect genuinely, your influence will reach far beyond your role.