Six Ways To Get Things Done When You're Not The Boss

It’s possible to get results from people who don’t report to you; influence colleagues in differing roles or generations; and lead initiatives without being the boss. These steps can help you create a natural following.

1. Customize your approach. Bend, adjust, and mold your style to fit someone else’s. If she wants to hear from you via voicemail and email, it doesn’t matter if you think that’s outdated or cumbersome. You’ll get better, faster results if you adjust your style to what she wants, rather than communicating with her via text because you prefer it. When you make it effortless for someone to respond to you or work with you, she will.

2. Control the vision, not the process. If you can help others see what you need from them, you’ll be more likely to get it. People want a clear vision of what’s expected so they can successfully achieve it. But leave the how-to-get-there to the person whose help you seek. Don’t micromanage the process. Instead, fill in your end-result picture with exceptional detail and allow others to chart a path.

3. Enhance the commitment. Salespeople ask for the sale, and you need to ask for a commitment and projected delivery date: “Can I count on you for this? When can I expect you’ll get it to me?” Then offer assistance and ask what help might ease their priorities or smooth their way: “What can I do to help you? Is there anything you need?” Follow through immediately if you need to involve others, or provide additional information.

Then, get permission to follow up: “Is it okay if I check back next week and see if you need anything else?” This check-in is not an attempt to manage them; that’s not your role. Rather, it’s a second chance for you to clear obstacles or assist should difficulties arise that could prevent you from getting what you need when you need it.

4. Help them, help you. When we need something, we tend to make things easier for ourselves–not others. But those who get great results do the opposite: they make it easier for the person they need something from. Have to get a quote for a press release from a busy manager? Draft two alternatives they can choose from or tweak. Need a status update from teammates? Don’t make them comply with a predesigned format that’s easier for you. Let them give their update in whatever fashion they want, even if it’s over lunch, walking to a meeting, or from a surrogate.

A project that’s crucial for you to move forward may be low on the priority list of others. Develop the spec, straw-person, or outline and have them sign off. Complete the funding documents or shepherd approvals through the process. Write the proposal and give it to them or their staff for review. Figure out ways to help them help you, and they will.

5. Act like a musketeer. The Three Musketeers got it right – “All for one and one for all!” Like 17th-century musketeers who understood if one was in trouble, they all were in trouble, those who get great results operate with unspoken commitments that go beyond self-interest.

Accountability is essential to being a musketeer. People respect, trust, and want to work with colleagues who don’t hide their mistakes, invent cover-ups, or blame others. Those who step up, own a problem, and work to fix it build relationship capital. In an era where it’s difficult to trust the messages or the messengers, behavioral integrity is at the root of influence.

6. Be trustworthy. If you want to get better results from those who don’t report to you, being trusted counts. In fact, it’s the essential difference in the operating style of those who consistently make things happen without title and authority and those who don’t. So be consistent and honor your commitments. It will give others confidence in you and the relationship.