In the business environment today the “I leader, you follower” mentality may not always be the most appropriate approach anymore.
With so many business structures relying on partnerships and working with teams inside and outside the company, the traditional leader tactic will not always work. Many managers and executives need to be able to adopt a more lateral style of leadership in order to coordinate, communicate, and complete work with these interwoven relationships.
The article explains lateral leadership as the ability to combine multiple essential skills. The article explains 4 essential capabilities to assist you with understanding how to use lateral leadership to your benefit.
1) Networking – “Cultivate a broad network of relationships with the people inside and outside your company whose support you need to carry out your initiatives.”
2) Constructive persuasion and negotiation – Look at persuasion and negotiation as a way to heighten your influence not as way to manipulate.
3) Consultation – “Take time to visit the people whose buy-in you need. Ask their opinions about the initiative you’re championing. Get their ideas as well as their reactions to your ideas.”
4) Coalition building – “It’s a fact of human nature that several people who are collectively advocating an idea exert more influence than a lone proponent.”
A few more take aways:
- Lateral leadership can be challenging for managers to execute. It is difficult to master many of the capabilities that go into achieving lateral leadership. It may take time.
- It is important to find the people in your company that have a lot of influence. Take the time to meet these people and get to know them before jumping into a project with them.
- A natural positive environment can help bring relationships together. A company should encourage opportunities for people to meet, but let the relationships form on their own and not be forced.
Exerting Influence Without Authority
Enjoyed the post Marisa, especially the first and fourth points which I think coincide. As we all know or are currently learning in our jobs, we hate being told what to do – at least I do. My most effective managers are those who create individual buy in from all our team members. They have personal relationships with everyone and are able to influence their employees without dictating ultimatums.
As I think about my next career steps, a sales manager will be the most likely next position. I will soon be “leading” my current peers and must remember these points to create the proper influence needed to succeed. The Golden Rule is hard to beat – do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Thanks for reminding us of these important points.