Welcome back to the Look and Sound of Leadership, an ongoing series of executive

coaching tips designed to help you be perceived in the workplace the way you want

to be perceived. I'm Tom Henschel, your executive coach, and today we're talking

about influence.

Jared was pissed and he was making no secret of it.

Assigned to a special projects team he had responsibilities but no authority.

He felt he spent all his time pleading with people for resources or work hours,

but people had their own jobs and their own responsibilities.

They said they wanted to help. They gladly put Jarrett on their to-do list, but with no authority,

Jared just had to wait. Feeling constantly stonewalled,

Jared asked for help and he was given a coach with the goal of called, coaching conversation I heard Jared lament, I know I'm not being very influential, I can see that, but I don't really know why.

Over many sessions, I learned how Jared approached people and what those various conversations sounded like.

At one point I observed, it sounds like one of your natural strengths is your ability to strongly

make your case.

I emphasize those last three words.

I'm so glad to hear you think I make my case, he said. I think so too, so why can't I get anything done?

I asked, Jared, could I tell him a story? He said, yes. I waited while he changed positions.

Then I began. This takes place during World War II on the home front. There were all kinds

of shortages, gas shortages, rubber shortages, and food shortages. One food shortage was meat. One solution to that problem

was to have women buy less regular meat and instead buy more organ meat,

hearts and livers and tongues, those kinds of meats.

Tongue, he said, my grandmother cooked tongue.

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