On Leverage: 1 Move to Scale Your Influence Without Saying a Word
Move 3 in the On Leverage Series
We started the On Leverage series by revealing how top performers escape overload by doing less and shrinking their zone of responsibility.
In our second article, we explored how top performers scale their thinking by turning one-off work into operating systems.
Now, we’re leveling up again by building coalitions that move with strategic clarity even when you're not in the room. Leverage isn’t solely about systems. It’s about people.
If you have to be in the room for things to move, you’re not leading. You’re micro- managing.
Only 30% of leaders say their teams make high-quality decisions without them (McKinsey, 2023).
That means 70% of leaders are bottlenecks whether they realize it or not.
Every time a decision stalls until you weigh in, you’re paying a hidden tax:
Slower execution
Lower trust
Constant context-switching
Burnout masked as “being indispensable”
This is the opportunity most leaders miss.
If you want compounding influence, your name needs to carry weight even when you’re not in the room.
Why This Matters
One of my clients was leading a high-growth team across multiple workstreams.
Smart. Capable. Respected.
She was the glue.
On the surface, it looked like leadership strength.
However, the risks were clear:
Projects stalled without her.
Her calendar was the bottleneck.
Burnout was constant.
So we flipped the script.
We mapped the org for leverage and identified key operators who could serve as force multipliers.
Then we did what most leaders skip:
We gave them context, not just tasks.
This shift transformed the work culture and operating rhythm.
She stopped being the glue and became the center of gravity.
his is the pivot top performers make:
Top performers don’t scale by doing more.
They scale by building teams that move with clarity without them.
Reflective Prompt
If you left tomorrow, what decisions would stall?
That’s your map to where leverage is missing.
Move 3: Build a Coalition That Can Move Without You
High-leverage leaders don’t just build systems.
They build coalitions: small groups of trusted players who carry context, make aligned decisions, and speak the same language.
That’s how influence scales.
What Most People Do
They stay close to every call, believing control equals influence.
But the more you’re needed, the less room others have to lead.
What Top Performers Do
They design coalitions that operate independently with clarity and confidence, without constant oversight.
They don’t just delegate.
They cascade strategic context.
They embed strategic judgment into the team so decisions don’t bottleneck at the top.
Your Move
This week, pick one workstream where you're the bottleneck.
Ask: Who needs more context, not more access?
Next,
Identify 3–5 people closest to your highest-leverage work.
Share the why, not just the what. Context that shapes decisions.
Align on the narrative: Here’s how we decide. Here’s what matters most.
Use AI to role-play decisions, pressure-test assumptions, and document trade-offs at scale.
Influence That Scales
Influence isn’t what you say in the room.
It’s what people are empowered to say when you’re not there.
Leverage Is a Design Choice
You don’t scale by accident.
You scale by design: through time, systems, and trusted coalitions.
If you’re overcommitted, under-systemized, or still the central node…
You’re not behind.
You’re just one power move away.
✅ Run your playbook. Build your coalition. Scale your influence starting now.
Go for it!
Joselle
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