| It's a classic catch-22: You're given responsibility for a project but no formal authority over the players who will assist you in the assignment. How do you exert influence in such a situation? Consider these tips: - Don't fake it. No one wants to be told what to do by someone who isn't his or her boss, so don't project a false sense of power over your colleagues. Approach them as equals and project a "we're all in this together" attitude. At the project kickoff meeting, for example, you can start by saying, "I'm here because I oversee our customers' online experience, and I'm hoping we can all work toward a solution to ensure that experience is cohesive throughout our brands."
- Know your stuff. If you're leading the charge to streamline the tracking of creative pieces throughout the production cycle, educate yourself on the current system before acting. Talk to various stakeholders and ask them for their views and suggestions on areas for improvement: What do they like about the existing system? Where do frustrations arise? Gather all of the input, share it with the group and demonstrate how their feedback informed a viable solution; this approach allows employees to feel they had a say in the process.
- Aim to inspire. As the project evolves, encourage and remain open to others' ideas and points of view. Doing so will help you build and maintain enthusiasm among the team. If you continually erect roadblocks or shoot down viable ideas, you'll have difficulty generating the support you need. If, after considering a colleague's suggestion, you decide it's not feasible, explain why.
- Adapt to the situation. Sometimes, you'll have trouble getting buy-in from others, no matter how well you present an idea. In such cases, you may need to adjust your project's goals or the timing of your initiative in order to complete it successfully. Effective leaders aren't stuck in one mindset; they realize that flexibility is a necessary attribute, especially in uncertain times when the company's objectives and priorities may be in flux.
Above all, remember that the most successful leaders – whether they have formal authority over their project's team members or not – are skilled at building solid relationships with colleagues throughout the organization. They are enthusiastic, collaborative and diplomatic. After all, these leaders know that they can't do it alone. |
