Most of us spend our working lives influencing across boundaries—colleagues we don't manage, clients we don't control, partners we collaborate with but have no authority over. The question that comes up over and over: "Where do I start?" You don't have to master dozens of influence tactics. Five practical, high-leverage principles work even when you don't have authority. Here's what actually works.

Learn three practical moves to navigate hard conversations in the moment: signal receptiveness, balance inquiry and advocacy, and ask what matters most. Through David and Maya's story, you'll see how to stay grounded when emotions run high, reset when you slip, and transform adversarial exchanges into collaborative problem-solving. Small shifts, big impact.

When conflicts stall progress, skilled leaders look beneath surface positions to uncover the needs driving them—transforming tension into understanding and alignment.

Conflict isn’t failure. It’s what happens when smart, driven people work closely under pressure. The real test of leadership is noticing it early—and shifting into a productive mindset before it spirals.

Leaders often feel trapped between two bad options, where both choices seem to sacrifice something vital. Welcome to the sucker's choice.