The New Crop: Issue #74
keys to influencing without authority + "10 body language 'tells' that reveal deception"
What’s in this issue:
💭 Thought: Keys to influencing without authority
😆 Today’s Laugh
Well said. 😂
💭 Today’s Thought
If you’re like me, you’ve found yourself in situations where you’ve had to lead individuals or groups of people with no “official” authority over them. In those situations, perhaps one or more of these things have been true:
You don’t directly manage them.
You don’t have a super-impressive title.
You don’t have strong support from your manager to gain the cooperation and buy-in of others.
This week, I found myself reflecting on what has helped me influence without authority effectively, and three factors rose to the top:
Alignment: find the points of commonality between your goals and values and those of others’; highlight them when enrolling people in your work.
Service: make it as easy as possible for someone to say “yes” to your initiative by offering meaningful help in getting it done; make it clear you’re not there to demand, but also to serve.
Openness: listen to and welcome other perspectives; co-create the plan and execution whenever it’s reasonable to do so.
Of course, there are other factors that help (ex: credibility, stakeholder buy-in, etc.). But in my experience, influencing without authority starts with a more fundamental mindset shift…
It’s not about: Here’s what I want. Who can help me?
But: Here’s what you and I want. How can we do this together?
What has helped you influence without authority? Shoot me an email - I’d love to hear!
🖊️ Today’s Reflection
If you’re new to journaling, I highly encourage you to read Nancy Adler’s article: Want to be an outstanding leader? Keep a journal.
This week, find a quiet place and gift yourself 10 minutes to reflect on any of these prompts (or invent your own!):
What does “influencing without authority” mean to you?
Where in your personal or professional life do you find yourself needing to influence without authority?
What has worked well in your current approach to influencing without authority? And what do you feel challenged by?
📚 Today’s Read
10 Body Language “Tells” That Reveal Deception
It sounds hard to believe at first, but just 7% of how we communicate with each other is through words.
Humans communicate primarily through body language. It’s been that way throughout our evolutionary history, and it remains so today. Recent studies have concluded that body language makes up about 65% of our interactions—the bulk of the 80% of communication that is deemed “nonverbal.”
- Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting
Regardless of whether deception is at play or not, as a leader, noticing the body language of those you work with accelerates your ability to learn what’s really going on and to have more substantive conversations. Read this article from Pamela Meyer to learn how to spot when someone may be either uncomfortable or not telling the full truth.
How can you pay more attention to the body language of those around you?
See you next week!
xo,
Anne