115 min
Pick one thing stuck on someone you don't manage, today. Name one outcome blocked by a person you have no authority over. Write what you need from them and, in one line, why moving it helps them too. Script 1.
Week 2 of 4The Leadership Momentum Playbook
Get things done without the authority
The read (3 minutes)
Almost everything worth doing depends on people you can't give orders to: a peer in another team, someone senior, a stakeholder with their own priorities. Leadership before the title is mostly this skill. Not charisma, not pushing. The quiet ability to get a yes from someone who doesn't have to give you one.
The move that works is simple and most people skip it: make the yes easy. Tie what you need to something the other person already wants, do enough of the work in advance that agreeing is easy, and make saying yes the easy next step, not a new project on their plate. "Could you look into this for me" is a lot of work. "I've drafted it, this is a quick yes or no" is easy. People say yes to easy.
The second half of influence is timing. The relationships that move things for you are the ones you built before you needed anything. This week you also reach out to one person whose support you'll want later, and you offer something first. The relationships you build before you need anything are the ones that come through when you do.
This week's moves
220 min
Make the ask the easy way. Send it framed around their goal, with the work pre-done so saying yes is easy. Script 2.
315 min
Build one relationship before you need it. Reach out to one peer or stakeholder whose backing you'll want down the line. Offer something useful first. Script 4.
Script bank
Word for word, ready to use. Edit any script to make it yours, then copy it.
1.The ask that matches their goal
"I'm working on [outcome]. I think it also helps you with [their goal]. Could you [one specific small thing]?"
2.The ask you've already made easy
"I've drafted [the thing] so this is a quick yes or no for you. If you're good with it, I'll take it from here." Always pre-do the work and make the easy answer the one you want.
3.The recommendation up
When you need a senior person to move, bring a recommendation, not a question: "Here's what I'd do and why. I wanted your read before I run with it." They get the final word, and you're still the one leading the thinking.
4.The early outreach
"You know [area] better than I do. I'd value your take on [thing] sometime. And if there's anything on your side I can help move, say the word." Give before you take.
5.The closed loop
After someone helps: "Done, thanks for the steer. Here's what came of it: [one line]." People remember that helping you led somewhere, and they're glad to do it again.
Friday debrief prompts
Your Friday email carries the reply template. These are the prompts inside it.
- What did you move through someone you don't manage, and how did you frame the ask?
- What made the yes easy, or what made it hard?
- Who did you reach out to before you needed anything, and what did you offer first?
Your self-score: Week 2
Score each statement from 1 (not true) to 5 (true).
Re-entry note
Missed week 1? Don't go back. Do this week's move 1 and move 2, then claim an outcome (week 1's move 1) over the weekend. Owning and influencing belong together anyway.