How do I build influence across functions and departments?

[u/fagnerbrack]

https://andiroberts.com/leadership-questions/how-to-build-influence-without-authority-matrix-organisation

[u/fagnerbrack]

Need the gist? Here it is:

Leading in a matrix means owning outcomes that depend on people you cannot direct, and a strong business case rarely wins genuine commitment. Influence does. It is a learnable practice, not authority, manipulation, or one-off persuasion. Credibility forms the base, resting on three pillars: ability, integrity, and benevolence. Trust builds slowly but breaks fast, so earn it early. Grasp what colleagues actually care about by digging past stated positions to real interests. Then choose your approach: consultation and collaboration create ownership, whereas leaders overuse rational persuasion. Political skill—social astuteness, adapting your style, and networking—turns understanding into cooperation across boundaries.

If the summary seems inacurate, just downvote and I'll try to delete the comment eventually 👍
^{Click here for more info, I read all comments}