Dear Reader,

How do you get what you want without using force or power?

Inspired by a workshop I prepared for a group of programme managers on the topic of "Influence without Authority," I could not resist drawing a 2x2 and exploring the stereotypes within the quadrants and, more importantly, how to move them from 'no influence' to 'influence' independent of whether they hold formal authority.

While authority relates to the legitimate power that allows someone to make decisions and enforce rules, influence is the ability to change behaviour or attitudes through personality, relationships and communication. As Facilitators, it's our job to influence because we want to engage them in the process and with each other. And you might remember ​podcast episode​ 254 on the role of manipulation in facilitation (a topic that Michael and I also discussed on this week's show), which is an extreme form of influence.

In the Matrix, I distinguish the Contributor (No Authority, No Influence), who collects and distributes information but lacks the power to influence decisions, from the Facilitator (No Authority, High Influence), who uses relationship and communication skills to influence despite the lack of authority.

On the other end, there is the Micro Manager (High Authority, No Influence) who manages performance through formal authority but struggles to inspire or motivate and the Charismatic Leader (High Authority, High Influence) who combines formal authority with significant influence, sharing a vision that inspires and motivates.

We can move from 'no influence' to 'influence' independent of our formal authority by applying facilitation skills:

For Contributors: Finding ways to become a trusted partner in the process who understands stakeholder needs and provides guidance and information that supports decision-making processes.

For Facilitators: Leveraging relational skills and influence to guide teams effectively. Enhancing their visibility and demonstrating tangible results can help in gaining more recognition.

For Micro Managers: Empowering team members, fostering trust, and reducing excessive control. This can lead to higher engagement and productivity.

For Charismatic Leaders: Sharing a vision using storytelling skills and delegating power to others to inspire collective action.

As we navigate our roles, it’s crucial to remember that influence often stems more from how we connect and communicate than from the authority we hold. By embracing facilitation techniques, we can all become more effective leaders, regardless of our position on the organisational chart.

Whether you’re looking to shift from Contributor to Facilitator or aiming to enhance your influence as a Charismatic Leader, the key lies in nurturing relationships, honing your communication skills, and demonstrating your unique value.

If you'd like to step into your leadership to have more influence independent of power, I invite you to check out my upcoming Leadership through Facilitation course!

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🎙 Meanwhile, on the podcast…

Every leader has it in them to be a coach, if only they could stay curious a little longer. This was something Michael Bungay Stanier learnt early on as a youth crisis telephone hotline operator: the first answer is rarely the only answer.

Better known for penning the #1 bestseller The Coaching Habit, a book that has found its way into the lives of over 1 million people, Michael’s coaching work is deeply considered, with a reverence for the gloriously messy complexities of human behaviour. It’s a delicate dance of presence, in and out of the spotlight, and thoughtful manipulation to get the best out of people.

It was a real treat to talk to Michael this week! Episode 280 is full to the brim with wisdoms, tips, tricks and anecdotes from the coaching king, on how we can all become better leaders.

Find out about:

• How to lead like a coach, helping your team to be more autonomous
• Why leaders should stay curious for longer, holding back on advice
• The body language and actionable tools that you can use to promote group agency
• The power of starting questions with ‘what’ rather than ‘how’
• Relational curiosity: how to stay curious about who people are
• How coaching can help redistributing power and status to others

🔖 Click here to download my 1-page summary of the show.​

🎧 Click here to listen to the interview​

Or watch it on Youtube:

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Live Learning Opportunities

An warm invite into Warmspace

Join Patrick Cowden(guest on episodes 001 and 124) in harvesting the fruits of his life journey, searching for a way to ignite human connection in minutes, in any setting, culture or language.

He has been combining the best practices of hundreds of facilitators from around the world and condensing their essence into a tiny piece of technology.

Now, it’s ready, after 2 years of development.

You are invited to test drive this connection engine (Warmspace) and see what 2 decades of dedication and hard work can bring to the world:

​Click here to sign up for free.

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Leadership through Facilitation

If you want to sharpen your facilitation skills, embrace your leadership potential, and create captivating workshops like never before, the Leadership through Facilitation online course could be for you. It's a 7-weeks course, delivered by a diverse group of master facilitators - each bringing in their unique experience and expertise so that you can find inspiration to grow your own unique way of leveraging your facilitation skills for effective leadership.

​Click here to find out more.

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And if you haven't checked out the new eBook editions with all summaries of podcast 101 until 250, click here f​or instant access.

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That's it for this week. I hope you enjoy this week's inspiration nuggets.

Myriam

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