Getting Things Done through Influence vs. Authority

When you have a title or position of authority, you can boss people around + micromanage + issue orders. It's a command-and-control approach to getting things done. But that style only gets you so far... people don't like to be managed with an iron fist. A better alternative, one that doesn't require authority, is a heart-and-soul approach. When you develop skills for influencing others, you can: - Ask instead of tell... and get positive responses from people who WANT to be engaged. - Tap into others' intrinsic motivation, a powerful force that unleashes lots of effort and results. - Trust that others will continue as planned, even when you're not looking over their shoulders. - Ennoble others so they'll share their input and ideas for reaching your goals together. - Collaborate without the constraints of positional power. No matter what your rank on the org chart is, influence can help you be more effective in working with others.