You have a good idea. You know the work better than anyone in the room. Yet when you raise it in a senior meeting, it does not land. The conversation moves on, and a week later someone else suggests something similar and it is approved. Frustrating, and very common.
Influence with senior leaders is not about being the loudest voice or the most senior person present. It is about being clear, relevant and steady. The good news is that each of these can be learned.
Start with what they care about
Senior leaders are juggling strategy, risk, budgets and people across the whole organisation. Your idea competes for limited attention. Before any important conversation, ask yourself: what problem is this leader trying to solve right now, and how does my point help them solve it? Lead with that connection, not with the detail of your work.
Bring a point of view, not just information
Updates inform. Recommendations influence. Instead of presenting everything you know, state clearly what you think should happen and why. A simple structure works well:
- The situation: one or two sentences on what is happening.
- Why it matters: the impact on the goals they care about.
- What I recommend: your clear proposal.
- What I need from you: the decision, support or resources you are asking for.
If you can say it in under two minutes, you are ready.
Stay calm when it gets difficult
Pushback is not rejection. It is often a sign that someone is taking your idea seriously. When challenged, slow down, acknowledge the concern, and respond to the underlying worry rather than defending every detail. Calm under pressure is one of the clearest signals of leadership presence, and people notice it.
Build relationships before you need them
Influence is rarely won in a single meeting. It grows through many small moments of trust. Have regular conversations with senior stakeholders when you do not need anything. Ask what keeps them up at night. Share useful observations from the front line. When the big moment comes, you will be speaking to someone who already knows and trusts you.
Stay authentic
Leading up does not mean becoming someone else. Executives can sense when someone is performing. The most influential leaders I know are recognisably themselves in every room: prepared, honest about what they do not know, and clearly committed to something larger than their own agenda. That is authenticity and service, two pillars of the PhiloHuman Mindset, working in your favour.
Your next step
Before your next senior meeting, write down your recommendation in four sentences using the structure above. Practise saying it out loud. Then watch how differently the conversation goes.
Building influence and presence is a core part of our Leader Breakthrough engagement. To see how strong your influence is today, take the free Leadership Gap assessment.
