Ask any successful tech executive what helped them rise through the ranks, and you’ll hear familiar answers: strategic thinking, innovation, technical excellence, decision-making.
But rarely will anyone mention this one skill—even though it quietly drives nearly every key leadership outcome:
Influence without authority.
It’s the ability to get things done through others—without relying on your title, reporting lines, or power plays.
And it’s the skill that separates managers from leaders who rise into executive roles.
Why Tech Leaders Often Miss This Skill
Most tech professionals are rewarded early in their careers for being the smartest problem-solvers in the room. They get promoted for technical mastery, not people skills and influence. So they keep focusing on “delivering results” and “doing great work.”
That works—until it doesn’t.
Once you hit a certain level (like Senior Manager or Director), results alone won’t carry you forward. Now, you need to:
- Lead cross-functional initiatives
- Win over senior stakeholders
- Rally people who don’t report to you
- Align others around a vision you don’t control
That’s where influence without authority becomes critical. And most people have never intentionally built this muscle.
The Cost of Ignoring It
I’ve coached hundreds of tech leaders stuck one level below the executive tier. They’re smart. They work hard. They meet their goals. But they struggle to:
- Get buy-in for their ideas
- Be seen as a peer by executives
- Navigate office politics
Without influence, they get overlooked for promotions—often in favor of someone who seems “less qualified” but has stronger relationships and presence.
What Influence Without Authority Looks Like
This isn’t manipulation. It’s not charisma. It’s not forcing your way in. It’s about:
- Building trust across teams
- Communicating your ideas in ways that resonate with business goals
- Anticipating objections and aligning with others’ motivations
- Creating clarity and momentum—without overstepping boundaries
At the executive level, your success depends on how well you move the organization forward through other people—not how much you personally do.
How to Start Building It Today
- Shift from “telling” to “connecting.” Stop leading with what you want. Start by understanding what others need—and show how your idea helps them win.
- Ask more, talk less. Great influencers listen more than they speak. Ask strategic questions that uncover concerns and build empathy.
- Use informal influence moments. Influence happens in hallway chats, Slack messages, and coffee meetings—not just in formal presentations.
- Practice visibility without ego. Influence is about shared ownership, not solo credit. Share your team’s wins. Invite feedback. Loop others in early.
Notes from Drew
If you want an executive role, influence without authority isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s the skill that gets you seen as an organizational leader—not just a technical one.
The good news? It’s learnable.
And once you build it, everything else—visibility, trust, opportunity—follows.
