No title.
No team.
Still a goal to deliver.
Influence is a skill.
You can learn it.
Start today.
A short story
A product analyst had no direct reports.
She needed Engineering and Sales to change one process.
Her asks were ignored.
We changed her approach.
She met people one by one.
She asked about their goals and risks.
She showed a small win in seven days.
Within a month the new process was live.
Why people do not follow you yet
- Your ask is vague. No clear outcome.
- You ask for effort, not a result that helps them.
- You speak from your need, not their goals.
- You surprise them in a big meeting.
- You promise later value but not a quick win now.
- You do not show that you will carry the weight.
Fix these and influence grows.
The PEERS method
P — Purpose
State the shared outcome in one line.
“Reduce churn by 2 percent this quarter.”
E — Evidence
Show simple facts.
One chart. One story from a user. No deck needed.
E — Empathy
Ask what success and risk look like for them.
Listen. Note it. Use it.
R — Request
Ask for one clear action with a finish line and a date.
Small. Concrete.
S — Small win
Deliver a first result fast.
Make their life easier this week, not next year.
Use PEERS in each conversation.
Your influence starter kit
- One-page brief
- Outcome in one sentence.
- Why it matters.
- Proof in three bullets.
- The one ask.
- The first small win and date.
- Stakeholder map
- Who must say yes.
- Who could block.
- Who will benefit most.
- One line of value for each person.
- Prewire list
- Meet people one by one before the group meeting.
- Share the brief. Ask for input.
- Adjust your plan using what you hear.
Scripts you can copy
Open the door
“Can I get ten minutes? I am working on reducing churn by 2 percent this quarter. I want to learn what would make this useful for you.”
Find their goal
“What would success look like for your team if we solve this?”
“What risk do you see for your area?”
Make the ask
“Would you be willing to test this with one customer this week? Done means we get one recorded call and a short note.”
Reduce risk
“I will write the draft. Your team only needs to review for five minutes.”
“I will handle the first setup and send the metrics.”
Handle pushback
“I hear the timing is tight. What is the smallest version we could try now?”
“If we learn X in a week, would that unlock a bigger step?”
Close the loop
“Thank you for the review. I will share results by Friday 4 pm.”
Create pull, not push
- Show how your idea helps their KPI.
- Remove friction. Do the heavy lift.
- Share credit in public.
- Thank fast.
- Keep your promises.
People follow what helps them win.
The “First Win in 7 Days” plan
Day 1: Write the one-page brief.
Day 2: Meet two key peers. Listen. Adjust.
Day 3: Meet the likely blocker. Offer a smaller test.
Day 4: Set up the test. Do the prep yourself.
Day 5: Run the test. Capture a simple metric.
Day 6: Share a one-page result. Ask for the next step.
Day 7: Thank everyone. Book the next tiny test.
One win creates trust.
Trust creates speed.
Your influence checklist
- Do I have one clear shared outcome?
- Can I say the ask in one sentence?
- Have I met the people one by one first?
- What is the smallest test we can finish this week?
- When will I share results?
Print this. Use it before every ask.
For cross-functional work
- Put decisions in a short note people can scan.
- Use simple owners and dates.
- Keep a public “What moved” log.
- Ask for one change per team at a time.
- Sync once a week. Keep it short. Decide and leave.
For remote teams
- Send the one-page brief before the call.
- Record a 3-minute Loom that explains the ask.
- Use a shared doc for comments.
- Finish the call with one owner, one date, one definition of done.
- Post the result where everyone can see it.
Common traps
- Asking for buy-in without listening first.
- Selling the whole vision. Start with a test.
- Waiting for permission. Start small and show value.
- Blaming “no authority.” Authority grows when you deliver.
- Forgetting to close the loop. Silence kills trust.
Tiny action now
Write your one-page brief.
Pick one person who could help.
Book a ten-minute chat.
Ask for one small step.
Deliver it this week.
The bigger frame
Awareness shows what others value.
Leadership turns that into a shared outcome.
Execution delivers small wins that build trust.
Titles come later.
Influence starts now.