Power & Influence
When This Skill Activates
Claude uses this skill when:
- Need buy-in from multiple stakeholders
- Navigating organizational politics
- Building influence without authority
- Managing up effectively
Core Frameworks
1. Sources of Power (Source: Jeffrey Pfeffer)
7 Sources:
- Expertise - Being the expert
- Resources - Controlling budget/headcount
- Relationships - Network and connections
- Information - Knowing what others don't
- Position - Formal authority
- Charisma - Personal magnetism
- Will - Persistence and determination
2. Building Political Capital
The Approach:
1. Map power structure
- Who decides?
- Who influences decisions?
- Who controls resources?
2. Build relationships
- Help others succeed
- Offer expertise
- Share credit
3. Accumulate wins
- Start with small wins
- Build reputation
- Expand influence
Action Templates
Template: Stakeholder Mapping
# Stakeholder Map: [Initiative]
## Decision Makers
- **Name:** [role]
- Power level: [High/Medium/Low]
- Support: [For/Against/Neutral]
- Concerns: [list]
- Approach: [how to influence]
## Influencers
- **Name:** [role]
- Influences: [who]
- Cares about: [what]
- Approach: [strategy]
## Coalition Building
- **Early supporters:** [list]
- **Fence-sitters:** [list]
- **Opposition:** [list]
## Action Plan
1. Build coalition with: [names]
2. Address concerns of: [names]
3. Pre-meetings with: [names]
4. Present when: [timing]
Quick Reference
🤝 Influence Checklist
Preparation:
- [ ] Map power structure
- [ ] Identify stakeholders
- [ ] Understand motivations
- [ ] Build coalition
Execution:
- [ ] Pre-meetings (surface concerns)
- [ ] Customized pitches (per stakeholder)
- [ ] Data + story (logic + emotion)
- [ ] Build momentum (early wins)
Key Quotes
Jeffrey Pfeffer:
"Power is the ability to get things done. If you want to make an impact, you need to understand power."
On Building Influence:
"The most successful people build their political capital before they need it."