Igor Perić

I’ve spent the last 8 years leading International investors to pour (literally) millions of dollars into a team of 20 people building tech products in my home country. My position was middle management, so I’ve seen both sides of the story – from one side I had a CEO and the board to report to, and then employees reporting to me from another side.

My position implied some level of authority, so I was able to observe being subtly managed and swayed by the people with less decision power than myself. It was refreshing to read the book “How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority” by Clay Scroggins and Andy Stanley, where they describe most of the ways people I worked with have used to gain credibility and affect decision making up the chain.

Here are couple of lessons I learned:

1. Cultivate Self-Leadership

The book emphasizes the importance of developing strong self-leadership skills, as this forms the foundation for effectively leading others. Scroggins explains that by mastering self-leadership, you can build credibility and influence, even when you lack formal authority.

Taking care of your well-being, both mental and physical, sends a strong message to the world. Use it to send a message “I know how to be the best myself”, so people around you are more likely to trust you with a solution to their problem.

2. Choose Positivity

The authors stress the power of choosing a positive mindset, even in challenging circumstances. They suggest that by maintaining a constructive and optimistic outlook, you can positively influence the energy and morale of your team.

Be careful! In my experience, this is a double-edged sword. I had people come up to me saying I was either delusional or feeding them with lies with some ulterior motive just because I chose to focus on the positive. When things are rough it is important to strike a balance between being honest versus motivational. Acknowledge the reality, but lay out a positive outlook for the future.

3. Think Critically

The book encourages readers to develop critical thinking skills, which allow them to analyze problems, challenge assumptions, and make well-informed decisions. Scroggins explains that this ability to think critically can help you gain the trust and respect of those around you.

I have always liked and tried to build inclusive, flat structure in our company. The culture in your argument beats mine if it’s better, not if you have a higher rank. My advice to everyone for advancing corporate ladder is a simple two step process:

1. Be right.
2. Speak up.

Contextually good ideas are very hard to harvest, so make sure you are that scarce resource. Identify and throughly understand and the most impactful problems your stakeholders have and be creative and proactive about solving them in front of them. It’s really that simple.

4. Reject Passivity

The authors caution against falling into a passive mindset, where you feel powerless to make a difference. Instead, they urge readers to take an active, proactive approach to leadership, leveraging their influence to drive positive change. So, always challenge status quo and try to move the needle forward with “What’s can I help with next?” attitude.

5. Cultivate Influence Through Relationships

The book highlights the importance of building strong relationships and networks, as these connections can be leveraged to increase your influence, even without formal authority. Scroggins provides strategies for developing trust, rapport, and collaborative partnerships.

Two greatest asset of a personal brand are skill and network. Make sure to build both.

6. Communicate Effectively

The authors emphasize the need for clear, compelling communication, as this can help you inspire and motivate others, even when you’re not in a leadership position.They offer guidance on crafting persuasive messages and engaging your audience.

The book “The story-selling method” by Philip Humm is another great read on this topic – it teaches you importance of a good “story-selling” for your success, as well as practical advices on how to build and deliver a good story and make yourself a good communicator. Capturing someone’s attention is a first step towards getting they buy-in for a product feature, tech stack shift or a promotion. The narrative should always have a personal ring to it, which was a bit surprising to me in a corporate setup.

Another thing to remember: motivation is contagious, so make sure to be very eloquent about the energy you are radiating about a common goal. This can move a mountain.

7. Embrace a “Servant Leadership” Mindset

The book encourages readers to adopt a servant leadership mindset, where the focus is on empowering and supporting others, rather than seeking personal gain. Scroggins explains that this approach can help you build trust, credibility, and a lasting positive impact, even without formal authority.

“Influence is not about climbing the corporate ladder; it’s about climbing into the hearts of those around you. When you earn the right to be heard, you’ll be amazed at the influence you can have from wherever you are.”