How to go about influencing people across different functions and teams?

Build relationships and build trust- get to know the people you want to influence- we are all human and want to do great work with people we know, like and trust- invest in this. Listen- you may not agree with your stakeholders, but understand their perspectives, what drives them- incentives, how they are compensated, goals, career aspirations, super powers. Communicate- clearly, often and transparently. Oh, and don’t use fancy language, $1000 words or tech jargon (sorry if any of my responses d ...Read More

Influencing across functions is all about trust, empathy, and speaking people’s language. Here's how I think about it: Start with the ‘why’. If I want someone to care or support an idea, I have to make it relevant to them. So I always connect the dots—how it ties back to their goals, team metrics, or the bigger company strategy. Build relationships before you need them. It’s way easier to influence people when you already have a rapport. I make a habit of getting to know folks across the org—qui ...Read More

IMO there are a few key ingredients to influence others: Credibility - show that you've done your homework and back it up with relevant experience and data. Trust - toughest to earn, easiest to lose. It grows when you deliver consistently and respect their priorities, not just yours. Patience - building the right relationships takes time and consistency. You’re playing a long game. The approach to drive influence will vary based on the company's operating principles, size, and the scope of your ...Read More

To influence people across different functions and teams you need to focus on our common denominator of being human with our individual perspectives. Here are my five tips to accomplish this: Lead by example. Embody the type of person that people respect even if they do not agree with you. Show up in the way that you would like others to show up for you. Empathy. Put yourself in their shoes and approach interactions from this lens. It’s important to be respectful even if you have to agree to dis ...Read More