Presenter
Deborah Slobodnik
- Learn best practices for influencing without authority
- Practice influencing a “difficult stakeholder”
- Develop a realistic influence plan
- How to tell when you are getting espoused versus real buy-in
- What strategy to employ when your first, second, and third attempts fail to get results
- How to let go of your own frustration
- Ten practical tips for influencing difficult people
Key Takeaways
- 1.Effective influence requires specific strategies to gain genuine buy-in over superficial agreement.
- 2.Proven methods can lower organizational barriers to implementing new strategies, programs, or processes.
- 3.Influence without direct authority is a primary lever for achieving real and sustainable change.
- 4.Leaders can apply practical tips to effectively engage with difficult stakeholders and customers.
- 5.Navigating complex interpersonal dynamics with confidence is crucial for effective leadership.
Gaining Buy-In From Difficult Stakeholders
Getting key stakeholders to truly support new strategies, programs, or processes is a common challenge for many leaders. Resistance from difficult individuals can create frustration and hinder progress. This session, presented by executive coach Deborah Slobodnik, provides practical, proven approaches to securing genuine buy-in and overcoming resistance to change.
Drawing on over 25 years of experience as an executive coach, consultant, and trainer, Slobodnik shares tips based on action research and best practices for influencing even the toughest customers and colleagues.
Key Approaches to Influencing Change
The webinar focuses on the core skills required to lead and implement change effectively, particularly when you do not have direct authority over the people you need to persuade.
Influence Without Authority
One of the main levers for creating real, sustainable change is the ability to influence others without relying on a formal command structure. This session explores methods for building this skill, allowing you to lower barriers to change and foster an environment of genuine collaboration.
Securing Genuine Buy-In
Moving beyond superficial agreement ("espoused buy-in") is critical for the success of any new initiative. You will learn strategies to diagnose the root causes of resistance, tailor your influencing approach, and ensure stakeholders are not just compliant, but truly committed.
Who Will Benefit from This Webinar?
This session is designed for leaders, managers, and professionals at all levels who are responsible for implementing change. It is especially relevant for those who frequently encounter resistance or skepticism from colleagues, clients, or other key stakeholders and want to navigate these complex organizational dynamics with greater confidence.
Leading effectively often requires navigating complex interpersonal dynamics, especially when faced with resistance to change. This session, featuring insights from executive coach Deborah Slobodnik, focuses on practical approaches to influence challenging individuals and secure genuine buy-in for new strategies or processes, a skill vital for any leader aiming for sustainable impact.
What you'll learn
- Strategies for gaining genuine buy-in over superficial agreement.
- Methods to lower barriers to change within organizations.
- Practical tips for influencing without direct authority.
- Techniques to effectively engage with difficult stakeholders and customers.
Who this webinar is for
- Leaders and managers at all levels seeking to improve their influence skills.
- Professionals responsible for implementing new strategies, programs, or processes.
- Individuals who frequently encounter resistance or skepticism from colleagues or clients.
- Anyone looking to navigate complex organizational dynamics with greater confidence.
Why it matters now
Effective influence remains a cornerstone of successful leadership, particularly in environments marked by constant change and diverse perspectives. The ability to engage and persuade even the most entrenched stakeholders is crucial for driving innovation, achieving strategic objectives, and fostering a collaborative culture. Mastering these skills allows leaders to transform potential roadblocks into pathways for progress.
How leaders can apply this
Leaders can immediately implement techniques to diagnose the root causes of resistance, tailor their influencing approach to specific personalities, and build stronger alliances. By applying the principles discussed, they can foster an environment where genuine collaboration thrives, ensuring that new initiatives are not just adopted, but truly embraced. This leads to more successful projects and a more cohesive team.
About this session
Key takeaways
Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on Competence. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Deborah Slobodnik's direct experience.
Who this is for
CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for killer achievement inside their organization.
Why it matters now
Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about Competence.
How to apply it
Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.
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