"Win at Work"

Weekly Newsletter by Yasar Ahmad

Before we start, every week I show you how to win at work. But behind the scenes, I’m building something bigger. Think: going from Director to Board Level, from undervalued to most valued team member in your organisation, your work always praised and noticed. Your voice heard and your presence felt.

It’s not a course. Not a book. Not a webinar. It’s a system. Private, practical, and brutal in how fast it shifts your career power.

I’m only opening it to a small group first. If you want in, join the waiting list. That’s all I’ll say for now.

Week 19 - Influence - Win Allies and Get Results

Do you ever feel ignored at meetings, or struggle to get your ideas approved because you’re “not in charge”? Here’s a secret: you don’t need a fancy title to have influence. You just need the right approach.

The problem: Many professionals think authority comes only from a job title. They sit quietly, do good work, and hope someone notices. Meanwhile, others with half the ideas but double the influence drive the agenda. If you can’t persuade and influence others, your best ideas may die on the vine. Projects stall because you can’t rally support. Your career growth can flatline while more influential colleagues (even at the same level) move forward. In short, being right isn’t enough - you also have to be convincing.

Influence in the workplace isn’t about manipulation or brown-nosing; it’s about communication and trust.

People naturally follow those they respect and who listen to them.

Think about it, are you more likely to support a coworker who has helped you before and understands your goals, or someone who only talks to you when they need something? Exactly. Influence is a two-way street: you earn it by giving value to others.

Solution: You can start boosting your influence today, without any formal authority. Try these tactics:

Build genuine relationships: Influence stems from trust. Take time to know your colleagues. Be helpful before you need something. Share credit freely. When people know you have their back, they’ll have yours.
Understand others’ motivations: Frame your ideas in terms of what matters to your audience. Your boss, team, or another department might each value different things (cost, speed, customer impact, etc.). Explain how your proposal helps them. Do your homework: what pain point does your idea solve for others?
Communicate with confidence and clarity: If you sound unsure about your own idea, why would others buy in? Practice pitching your proposal in a clear, concise way. Use facts and stories - data appeals to logic, stories appeal to emotions. Both together are powerful. And don’t ramble; respect everyone’s time.
Leverage reciprocity: One of the classic principles of influence – when you do favors or produce good work for others, they feel inclined to return the favor. This isn’t transactional manipulation; it’s human nature. Help coworkers hit their deadlines, share knowledge, and when you need support, you’re likely to get a yes.
Involve others early: People support what they help create. If you have an idea, get input from key teammates or stakeholders early on. Incorporate their suggestions. Now it’s our idea, not just yours – and those folks will champion it alongside you. Influence multiplies when others feel ownership.
Pick your battles and be consistent: Don’t try to push every little preference. Focus on influencing decisions that truly matter. When colleagues see that you’re not just pushing your own agenda 24/7 – that when you speak up, it’s for something important – they’ll listen. Also, consistently demonstrate integrity. If people know you as honest and competent, your words carry weight.

For example, suppose you have a plan to adopt a new software tool, but you need other teams to agree. Instead of emailing a cold proposal to a big group, start one-on-one. Approach a colleague in another department, acknowledge their needs (“I know your team is struggling with X, this tool could help by…”) and ask for their input. Maybe they raise a concern you hadn’t thought of – you adjust the plan. Now you’ve gained an ally. When the meeting comes to decide, you have supporters around the table nodding in agreement, because you did the legwork to address their concerns and include them. That’s influence in action.

Take Aways:

Remember, “People support what they help create.” and influence isn’t about job titles – it’s about relationships, credibility, and communication. By earning trust and aligning your ideas with what others care about, you’ll turn colleagues into allies. Doors will open, projects will move, and you’ll establish yourself as a natural leader (long before any formal title). Start small, practice these skills in your next interaction and watch your influence grow. In time, you won’t have to push your ideas… others will be pulling you forward along with them.

Thanks

Yasar