Issue 61: Influence without authority: How to get buy-in from key decision-makers

March 10, 2025•3 min read

"Power isn’t control at all, power is strength, and giving that strength to others."

- Michelle Obama

Leadership isn’t about job title, it’s about influence.

Influence eats job title for breakfast.

Whether you’re a CEO navigating a major client relationship or a leader trying to get executive buy-in, your ability to influence decisions even if you don't have direct authority can make all the difference between progress and wanting to pull your hair out (or pull someone else's hair out!).

If you’ve ever had a great idea that got ignored or couldn't get an important project to go because someone else had the decision-making power, this is for you.

1. Get inside their decision-making process

Influence starts with understanding what matters to the person you’re trying to influence.

What are their priorities? What are their concerns? If your proposal doesn’t align with their goals, it won’t get traction.

How do they make decisions? Some leaders want big-picture strategy, others need detailed risk assessments—adjust your pitch accordingly.
Who influences them? Sometimes, it’s not about convincing the decision-maker directly—it’s about getting the right people on your side first.

2. Frame your idea as a solution to their problem (not yours)

People don’t get behind ideas, they get behind solutions to problems they already care about.

Instead of saying:
"We should invest in leadership development."

Try:
"Right now, we’re losing top talent because they don’t see a growth path. A structured leadership development plan could really improve retention and save us hiring costs."

When you frame your idea as a low-risk, high-value solution to a problem they already know they want to solve, it’s so much harder to ignore.

3: Build small wins and create momentum

If your idea gets dismissed, don’t drop it, just package it a little bit smaller.

What I mean is instead of waiting for full approval, find a way to test a smaller version of your idea.

Want budget for a new initiative? Start with a small pilot version.
Need exec buy-in? Get buy in from a respected colleague first.
Trying to influence a change in culture? Model the behavior yourself, and let others see the results.

Influence isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about getting strategic.

If you’ve been struggling to get buy-in for something important, step back and rethink your approach.

✔ Who do you actually need to influence?
✔ How can you position your idea as a solution to their biggest priorities?
✔ What small step can you take this week to create momentum?

Influence is a skill that anyone can learn, refine, and leverage - no matter your level or industry. If you want to sharpen your ability to influence key decisions, I’m working with a select group of leaders through my 6-week executive coaching beta.

Spots are limited - reach out to see if I still have room.

Go out there and lead,

Asia

P.S. Next week, we’ll tackle how to make better decisions faster.

What’s one way you’ve successfully influenced without authority? Reply and let me know - I’d love to hear.