How To Build Alliances In The Office

"I don't play politics." A Managing Director said this before walking into a $50M 'major expenditure' review meeting. He walked out empty-handed. After 25+ years watching high potential executives crash and burn in "the room where it happens," I've learned something most people miss: The real work happens before you walk in that room. Influence isn't about charm. It's about preparation. And in today's environment, where budgets are tighter than ever, the stakes have never been higher. So, what does work? The Advance Work Framework: 1. Map the Power (Not Just the Org Chart) Who really makes the decision? (Hint: Not always who you think) What keeps them up at night? Who do they trust for input? One client discovered the "junior" person in the room was the CEO's former chief of staff. Guess whose opinion mattered most? 2. Build Your Coalition Before You Need It The worst time to make allies? When you need them. Smart executives plant seeds months before the harvest: Coffee with the skeptics Informal temperature checks Strategic information sharing By the time you're pitching, you already know who's with you. 3. Know Their Language, Not Just Your Message Match your message to their metrics: Revenue-focused? Show growth Cost-conscious? Show savings Risk-averse? Show mitigation Same idea. Different frame. Completely different outcome. 4. Pre-Sell Everything That Matters The meeting isn't where you sell. It's where you confirm. If you're introducing new information in the room, you've already lost. Follow this rule: No surprises in big meetings. Ever. That person who always seems to "get lucky" with approvals? They're not lucky. They're doing 10x the advance work you are. While you're perfecting your slides, they're having strategic hallway conversations. The Bottom Line: Your ability to influence has very little to do with your charisma in the moment. It has everything to do with the relationships you've built, the intelligence you've gathered, and the groundwork you've laid. Stop counting on spontaneous charm. Start investing in strategic preparation. Since I first shared this framework, dozens of executives have messaged me about deals they closed using it. The advance work works. 🎯 When was the last time you walked into a crucial conversation truly prepared—not just with data, but with deep insight into every person in that room? Be honest. Your next promotion might depend on it. ------------ ♻️ Share with someone heading into year-end budget battles ➕ Follow Courtney Intersimone for more truth about what really drives executive success

Struggling with Office Politics? 🌟 Navigating the complexities of office politics can be one of the most challenging aspects of any professional's career, especially for women of color in HR leadership roles. But with the right strategies, you can turn these challenges into opportunities for growth and influence. I remember being the "new kid on the block" in one of roles. Most of the senior leadership team had been with the organization for years, and the culture was deeply rooted in the mindset of "we've always done it this way." As the only person of color to ever hold my role, I faced additional challenges and lacked the established relationships others had. But even through all of this, I made pivotal culture changes in the area of DEI. I influenced hiring and compensation decisions and tackled some really tough employee relations issues. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗗𝗶𝗱: 𝟭. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀: I identified the key stakeholders and allies within the organization. I nurtured these relationships through regular check-ins and collaborative projects, building a network of support. 𝟮. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆: I honed in on my communication skills to articulate my ideas clearly and confidently. This included actively listening to others and framing my messages to align with the goals and interests of those I was speaking to. 𝟯. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱: I made it a priority to stay informed about organizational dynamics and changes. This helped me anticipate challenges and seize opportunities before others. 𝟰. 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: I remained true to my values and maintained my integrity, even when faced with unethical behavior. This earned me respect and trust from colleagues and leaders alike. 𝟱. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: I leaned on my wonderful connections outside the organization for advice and support. They provided me with insights and perspectives that were invaluable in navigating the internal politics. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲: 𝗜 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 By strategically navigating office politics, I transformed my career. I gained significant influence within the organization, and became a trusted advisor to to the C-suite and others in the organization. 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱? Office politics can be daunting, but with the right approach, you can navigate them successfully and turn challenges into opportunities. Which of these tips resonates with you the most? Comment below and let me know!

Many bosses may hate me for this, but I'll say it anyway: Your career progress often happens in rooms you're not in. Right now, somewhere, your name is being mentioned in a meeting. But who's fighting in your corner? While talent matters, what really drives career advancement is who speaks up for you when you're not there. Some people spread doubt behind closed doors, while others demolish reputations in silence. The key? Building an army of career defenders. It starts with becoming worth fighting for - delivering work that makes others look brilliant. Then, turn leaders into loyal advocates by making your wins visible while crediting supporters. Build a high-level network by connecting with seniors two levels up. Most importantly, champion others first - especially in their absence. Because in every senior meeting, promotion discussion, and project assignment, someone is either championing your potential or letting silence kill your chances. Here are 10 ways to build powerful allies: 1. Deliver exceptional work consistently. 2. Make your wins visible to key leaders. 3. Credit your supporters publicly. 4. Connect with seniors two levels up. 5. Champion others when they’re not around. 6. Build relationships across departments. 7. Seek feedback and act on it. 8. Share knowledge and help others grow. 9. Stay positive and solution-focused. 10. Be authentic and trustworthy. Remember: → Your reputation travels without you. → Make sure it has powerful allies carrying it. ♻️ Share to help other leaders 🎯 Follow Cory Dunham⭐️ Dunham for purpose-driven leadership insights

Building Strong Alliances with Peers: The Often Overlooked Key to Leadership Success In the realm of executive leadership, one truth stands out: the power of strong alliances with peers. Navigating complex organizational landscapes becomes exponentially easier when you have a robust network of allies by your side. Today, I want to share insights from a seasoned executive client who mastered this art and transformed his Chief of Sales leadership journey. His success in building peer alliances was not accidental; it was the result of deliberate actions and a strategic approach. Here are the three key things my client did and continues to practice today: 1. Embraced Authentic Communication: Genuine relationships are built on trust and transparency. Make it a priority to engage in open and honest conversations with peers. By sharing your challenges, successes, and seeking input, you foster a culture of mutual respect and collaboration. 2. Aligned Goals and Shared Vision: Aligning your goals with those of your peers. Invest time in understanding their priorities and finding common ground. By aligning your objectives with the broader vision of the team, everyone will be working towards a shared purpose. This not only strengthens alliances but also propels organizations towards achieving strategic goals. 3. Showed Consistent Appreciation: Acknowledging the contributions of others is a simple yet powerful way to build strong relationships. Be intentional and sincere about recognizing the efforts and successes of your peers. Whether it’s a public shout-out in meetings or a personal note of appreciation, consistent recognition fosters a positive and collaborative environment. As an executive coach, I’ve seen firsthand how building strong alliances can elevate leadership effectiveness. It’s about being authentic, aligning goals, and showing appreciation. These principles not only enhance your professional relationships but also drive organizational success. To all aspiring leaders, remember that your peers are your greatest assets. Nurture these relationships, and you’ll find that navigating the complexities of leadership becomes a shared journey of growth and achievement. #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #PeerAlliances #TeamSuccess #LeadershipDevelopment

You depend on other departments to serve your customers. Win them over with this three-step process for building alliances. ⚠️ Let's acknowledge other teams can be difficult. They aren't always responsive, helpful, or even easy to work with. It's frustrating, but don't assume... ❌ They're intentionally being difficult ❌ You are their #1 priority ❌ They don't face challenges of their own You know what happens when you assume things, don't you? Here's how to make alliances that will help you win over those other teams and get more done: 1️⃣ Make a list of key people/teams you rely on to do your job. Prioritize these alliances. For example, I helped maintain the company knowledge base in a former role. I needed someone from IT to finalize any changes. Updates could take weeks. Ugh! 2️⃣ Talk to them and learn what *they* need. Focus on their needs first to build trust. I met with the IT team and learned they were struggling to keep up with their workload. The updates were a low priority to them because they behind on other projects that had high visibility with company executives. 3️⃣ Build an alliance where you help each other. Find ways for each team to win. The IT team needed new skills to keep up with their projects. I was the training director, so I found funding and a training source to help them build those skills. (They loved me for that!) This helped me convince the IT team to give me admin rights to the knowledge base so I could make updates on my own and save them time. It turns out, they loved that too. Bottom line: 💡Win over other departments by approaching them as a partner who is ready to make deals.