As functional and matrixed teams become more common, the power to influence emerges as a most important strategic management skill. In a matrixed team, you have the responsibility to accomplish your goals, but not always the authority. Thus, expressing your needs in a way that works, or is well received, to those around you proves critical to getting the answers you want.

Identify successful methods to get buy-in from others in your organization, and leave equipped with numerous new ideas and strategies to influence colleagues, supervisors and staff. Learn to:

1. Discover new ways to “people-read” in order to understand others better
2. Develop more self-awareness about your natural communication style
3. Identify valuable strategies for adapting to others to facilitate better working relationships
4. Create an action plan that can be immediately and successfully implemented to influence decision makers