Leading Without Authority: The Operator Playbook
Val Chahul
The Operator
Most leadership advice assumes you have a title. This post is for those who do not—yet still need to move mountains.
Most leadership advice assumes you have a title. This post is for those who do not—yet still need to move mountains.
The Reality of Modern Work
In cross-functional teams, matrix organizations, and consulting engagements, formal authority is often absent. You cannot fire anyone. You cannot mandate attendance. You cannot force compliance. And yet, projects must ship.
This is where influence becomes your primary tool.
The Influence Stack
I think of influence as a stack, from foundational to advanced:
Level | Mechanism | Example |
|---|---|---|
1. Competence | Earn trust through skill | Ship high-quality work consistently |
2. Clarity | Reduce ambiguity for others | Write clear specs, drive to decisions |
3. Alignment | Connect to shared goals | Frame work in terms of team OKRs |
4. Coalition | Build support before meetings | Pre-align stakeholders 1:1 |
The Pre-Meeting Strategy
The most important work happens before the meeting room. If you walk into a decision meeting hoping to persuade people in real-time, you have already lost.
Decisions are ratified in meetings. They are made in the hallways.
My process:
Identify the 2-3 people whose opposition would kill the proposal
Schedule 15-minute pre-syncs with each
Ask for their concerns, incorporate feedback
By meeting time, alignment is already achieved
The Takeaway
Authority is granted. Influence is earned. In a world of distributed teams and flat hierarchies, the operators who master influence will outmaneuver those waiting for permission.
Discussion
Comments coming soon.