AMA: Adobe Director, Adobe Sales Academy, Jessica Holmes on Influencing without Authority

Sales stakeholders can come from any department within an organization and as the company grows, their input is key to sales success. A few examples may be: Product Teams: aligning sales strategies with new offerings and/or customer feedback Marketing: greater integration for cohesive messaging and lead gen Customer success: ensuring client satisfaction and retention External partners: distributors, resellers, support partners can help expand market reach The best method to building and maintain ...Read More

My suggestion is to reframe your thinking from "managing people" to collaborating with people who don't report to you. As leaders, we should manage processes and not people. The simplest way to work with others, both those who may or may not report directly to you, is to build strong relationships built on respect and communication. Fostering collaboration is key by first ensuring you're aligned on the project's goals, then be sure to include them in the decision making process, or acknowledging ...Read More

It's best when the collaboration/ideation stage is done as a step towards an outcome, but oftentimes we need to make that pivot from collaborating to leading. Here's what I've found works best: Define Roles & Tasks: Ensure everyone understands their roles & responsibilities. Use the RACI method to start and take into account the team member's skillset, strengths and interests. Set Clear Milestones: Align on deadlines and specific goals that allow each project member to succeed in their r ...Read More