Leading

Without Authority: Build Muscles Before You Need Them

When you develop a variety of sources of influence, you have more options for being effective and productive
and achieving your personal and professional goals. Start building strength in these areas of influence before
you need them.

Sources of Influence:

Character

Expertise/Information

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Connectedness/Collaboration

o
o
o
o
o

Social/Political Intelligence

o
o
o

Resources/ Funding

o
o
o
o
o
o

Results

o
o
o

Do I lead by example?
Do I follow through on commitments?
Am I respectful, authentic and trustworthy?
Do I inspire confidence and trust through my honesty and integrity?
Do I have the education and training needed to be successful in my job?
Do I have relevant knowledge, experience, and skills for my job?
Do my co-workers value my input and expertise?
Do I know and understand the business of my company/industry?
Do I readily share my content knowledge, experience, helpful or valuable
information?
Do I provide data and proof when making recommendations?
Can I communicate clear logic, explain benefits, and reassure others of
my suggestions/recommendations?
Do I easily build and form close working relationships with others?
Do others enjoy working with me on projects?
Do I share common work values with others?
Do I help connect key people with each other for the overall good of the
company?
Do people trust that I can get the support and resources needed to
accomplish project goals?
Can I leverage relationships to get others to take action?
Do I present myself appropriately (dress, communication, and behavior)
for my role and the company culture?
Do I consider all the stakeholders for projects and initiatives and
communicate and include them appropriately?
Do I offer insight that helps resolve conflict instead of adding to it?
Do people trust that I will help the team work together successfully?
Do I know the formal and informal influencers in the organization?
Do I have relationships with the people up and down the organization
who have the expertise and ability to make things happen?
Do I connect with key stakeholders that approve budgets, etc.?
Do I have access to financial support and ensure adequate funding and
resources are available to be effective?
Do I hold myself accountable to meet commitments and objectives?
Do I achieve results, even under tough circumstances?
Can my boss and team count on me to get the job done?

List opportunities to enhance your efforts to establish your brand and lead effectively without authority:
1.__________________________________________________________________________________
2.__________________________________________________________________________________
3.__________________________________________________________________________________