The Form and Fashion of Influence

What ISN’T in Your Title?

A first glance into the world of business suggests that titles are everything. Whose boss are you? Who is your boss? Titles have become so important that in some instances individuals begin to identify who they are with what they put after their name. In fact, the first thing most people ask about after your name is what you do!

It’s understandable that people take pride in their title; after all, they worked hard to get where they are. This can be especially true for women as they forge their way through the jungle of the working world, and it is particularly true for women in senior leadership roles.

Yet, it is important to remember that a person’s true value cannot simply be captured within a position’s name. Instead, people should focus on impact. One thing that all great leaders have in common is their influential power.  The ability to create influence is particularly important for women, especially as they ascend to higher roles.

Gain Power without the Title
As we get promoted, we tend to focus on how to lead our direct reports. This is absolutely necessary and should not be ignored; however, there should also be a focus on getting peer support – encouraging those of equal authority on different teams to become your champions. People often make the mistake of assuming that once you earn a certain title you will be able to get everything you want done. The business landscape has become more collaborative, and it is a necessity that leaders deal with, and direct, other leaders.

What does your title mean to those other leaders? Beyond a job description, probably not too much. The key to leading is to create influence where there is no authority. This is a balancing act for any leader, but especially for women. As Sheryl Sandberg states in Lean In, “If a woman pushes to get the job done, if she’s highly competent, if she focuses on results rather than pleasing others, she’s acting like a man. And if she acts like a man, people dislike her.”[i] Creating influence without authority is truly an art for women.

The Factors of Influence

Influence is critical because it puts you in a position of personal power, which you can take with you. Establishing expertise, building a strong network, and demonstrating high performance on the job are all ways to establish personal power and influence.