Power & Influence

When This Skill Activates

• Need buy-in from multiple stakeholders
• Navigating organizational politics
• Building influence without authority
• Managing up effectively

Core Frameworks

1. Sources of Power (Source: Jeffrey Pfeffer)

1. Expertise - Being the expert
2. Resources - Controlling budget/headcount
3. Relationships - Network and connections
4. Information - Knowing what others don't
5. Position - Formal authority
6. Charisma - Personal magnetism
7. Will - Persistence and determination

2. Building Political Capital

1. Map power structure
   - Who decides?
   - Who influences decisions?
   - Who controls resources?

2. Build relationships
   - Help others succeed
   - Offer expertise
   - Share credit

3. Accumulate wins
   - Start with small wins
   - Build reputation
   - Expand influence

Action Templates

Template: Stakeholder Mapping

# Stakeholder Map: [Initiative]

## Decision Makers
- **Name:** [role]
  - Power level: [High/Medium/Low]
  - Support: [For/Against/Neutral]
  - Concerns: [list]
  - Approach: [how to influence]

## Influencers
- **Name:** [role]
  - Influences: [who]
  - Cares about: [what]
  - Approach: [strategy]

## Coalition Building
- **Early supporters:** [list]
- **Fence-sitters:** [list]
- **Opposition:** [list]

## Action Plan
1. Build coalition with: [names]
2. Address concerns of: [names]
3. Pre-meetings with: [names]
4. Present when: [timing]

Quick Reference

🤝 Influence Checklist

• Map power structure
• Identify stakeholders
• Understand motivations
• Build coalition

• Pre-meetings (surface concerns)
• Customized pitches (per stakeholder)
• Data + story (logic + emotion)
• Build momentum (early wins)

Key Quotes

"Power is the ability to get things done. If you want to make an impact, you need to understand power."

"The most successful people build their political capital before they need it."