The power of influence in leadership
I often think about how leaders can inspire others to act in areas where they might have no direct authority. The ability to influence without power is, in many ways, one of the most subtle and powerful skills in leadership.
It’s also where my own leadership journey began.
As a Sabbatical Officer in a Students’ Union, I found myself working in a small charity with a turnover of around £250,000 and just a handful of staff, trying to influence change within a university more than 160 times larger. My remit was to improve the student experience, but my authority to make that happen was far less defined.
It was here that I began to understand the power of influence in leadership: how much can be achieved through relationships, credibility and trust, even when you can’t rely on hierarchy or your position.
What it means to lead without authority
I quickly realised that influence wasn’t about grand gestures or forceful persuasion. It was about building relationships, being credible, showing up consistently and understanding how to create the conditions where good ideas could take root. Most of all, it was about doing the groundwork, meeting people, listening carefully, being well-briefed and putting across your points clearly and respectfully.
True influence, I learned, often looks ordinary on the surface.
Much of it is about planting the seed of an idea, nurturing it quietly, and allowing others with the power to act to feel ownership of that idea. That’s not manipulation; it’s leadership in its most collaborative form, helping people see the value of a shared vision.
Small acts that spark big change
Once I understood what true influence meant, I began to see how small actions could create meaningful momentum.
In one project I supported, a team had tried and failed to achieve external accreditation for a diversity, equity and inclusion initiative. They were deflated and ready to give up. In the meeting that followed, I simply asked, “Surely with a few amends, we can resubmit and get this?”
It wasn’t a grand intervention, but it changed the tone in the room. A little positivity and encouragement at the right moment helped the team regain momentum. We did resubmit, and we succeeded. The accreditation remains in place many years later.
For me, that moment captured the essence of influence: sometimes leadership is about being the person who keeps others believing when belief is fragile.
When influence doesn’t work
A few years later, I applied for a role at a well-known advocacy charity and was asked to speak about my approach to influence. I shared stories like the one above, describing how I had worked collaboratively to achieve change without confrontation.
Then came a question that stayed with me: “What happens when you don’t get the result you want with soft influence?”
I’m still not sure I like the term soft influence. It annoys me as much as the notion of soft skills, which I feel completely devalues skills such as emotional intelligence, empathy and the ability to communicate in a way that disarms others and enables them to listen.
Influence, emotional intelligence and empathy aren’t soft at all; they are the foundations of real leadership.
However, it was, at the time, one of the hardest questions I had ever been asked. I realised that most of my stories involved success, influencing quietly behind the scenes and getting the outcome I was aiming for. I had never really reflected on when it didn’t work.
In truth, not every effort to influence succeeds. There are times when you can put in the groundwork, build relationships and still not secure buy-in. In those moments, leadership is about understanding when to persist, when to adapt your message and when to step back and allow others to take their own path.
I didn’t get that job, but the question itself became a valuable lesson. Influence is as much about resilience as it is about persuasion. Sometimes, planting the seed doesn’t mean you get to see it grow.
Learning from quiet victories
Over the years, I’ve reflected on how leading without authority often happens quietly, through small moments of care or courage. The truth is that the most impactful leadership contributions are often the quietest ones, and not every outcome needs to be visible to have value.
In many cases, you can’t share the story publicly because your success lies in preventing something from going wrong, steering a conversation, shifting a tone or helping an organisation avoid a misstep. These invisible wins can be just as transformative, even if they never make it into a report or press release.
Influence isn’t always visible. It is the conversation that happens after a meeting, the email that changes someone’s perspective or the well-timed question that reframes an issue. It is the cumulative impact of steady, values-led leadership.
Building trust to inspire others
The art of influence is really about trust. When people trust your intent, they are more likely to hear your ideas and be moved by them. You don’t need a title, budget, or hierarchy to inspire others; you just need integrity, curiosity, and the courage to act with purpose.
Most of us will find ourselves leading without authority at some point — through our work, our communities, or our values.
Leaders who influence well empower others to act, listen deeply and connect ideas to purpose. They guide rather than instruct, and they share success generously.
For anyone leading without formal authority, remember this: your voice matters more than your title. The ability to shape thinking, encourage belief, and create momentum from the margins is one of the most powerful forms of leadership there is.
Bill Yuksel is our Head of Not for Profit Appointments, with over 75 CEO appointments across England, Wales and Scotland. With a true passion for social change and a drive to match motivated candidates with organisations where they can make a difference.
