Strategies for Amassing Power and Sway Without Official Leadership Roles
Feeling stuck at work? Chris Lipp, management communication expert and author of The Science of Personal Power, shares some practical advice to help you build influence and make a difference, even without formal authority.
Empower Yourself From Within
Lipp defines personal power as an internal quality—believing in your own capability to create impact and having the ability to manifest your values into the world. Avoid the low-power behaviors of trying to be more likable or prove how great you are. Instead, focus on speaking up and taking action. Initial resistance may occur, but it will quickly turn into respect. Speaking up is the only way to gain status and make a real impact.
Don't Let Lack of Authority Hold You Back
Silence gives you no status ever. You only get status when you speak up and take action. If you're uncomfortable with the status quo, break the illusion that you're powerless. Take responsibility for what's happening, especially during standard meetings or work gatherings. This proactive approach will raise your profile within the organization.
Support Your Boss's Vision
One of the most direct ways to gain impact without hierarchical power is to align with your boss's vision. Understand their goals, determine if you're comfortable committing to those goals, and then become their loudest advocate. This demonstrates your value to them and creates a foundation for building trust and influence.
Manage Your Boss's Concerns
If your boss's goals differ from what you believe is right for the team or project, approach them with empathy. Understand their concerns and present your ideas in a way that demonstrates how they benefit your boss and help them achieve their goals. Avoid public criticism as this may undermine their perceived authority. Offer solutions that are backed by data and framed as advantages for your boss, not just for your vision.
Focus on Action, Not Just Ideas
Don't just point out problems; come up with actionable solutions. Understand your boss's concerns before you propose a new course of action, but don't let deliberations and discussions keep you stuck. Gather the information you need to make a real action and submit that as a plan. This shows your boss that you're proactive, empowered, and ready to drive change.
Learn from Rejection
If your boss doesn't agree with you right away, don't give up. Use rejection as an opportunity to refine your action plan or adjust how you present your proposal. Getting a "no" is just a stepping stone towards a strong "yes". Don't view rejection as an ultimate defeat; instead, view it as a test to remain true to your values and a pushback that many change-makers face at some point.
As you continue to assess and align with your boss's goals, stay anchored to your own. By consistently speaking up and presenting actionable solutions, you'll earn respect from your colleagues and build your own base of power. Avoid focusing on others first because then you're not truly connected to yourself. Stay true to your values, and you'll find the courage to make a real difference.
- Believing in one's own capability to create impact and manifest values is key to building personal power, as Chris Lipp, a management communication expert, suggests in his book The Science of Personal Power.
- Speaking up and taking action can help you gain status and make a real impact, even without formal authority, according to Lipp's advice.
- Supporting your boss's vision and becoming their loudest advocate can be a direct way to demonstrate your value and build influence within an organization, as outlined in the text.
- When your boss's goals differ from what you believe is right, approach them with empathy, understand their concerns, and present your ideas in a way that benefits them, not just your own vision, as suggested for effective communication.
- By focusing on actionable solutions and staying proactive, you can show your boss that you're empowered, ready to drive change, and capable of learning from rejection, ultimately building your own base of power and staying true to your values.
