You don't need to put on a performance to influence, you need trust that crosses teams

Not everyone is wired to "manage up," perform for the room, or speak in boardroom tones on demand. In real workplaces, influence grows when you show up consistently, build sideways and diagonal relationships, and learn who people are beyond their roles. Skip levels, peers of your boss, and partners in adjacent teams become your network of context, sponsorship, and early signals.

This looks like short check-ins on onsite days, sharing a useful doc without being asked, and asking one human question before diving into business. Over time, these moments build familiarity and trust, making your work visible without performance theater. When priorities shift, the people who know you and your intent move your ideas further and faster.

Intentional relationships are not a side project. They are part of the work and skill to be built and cherished. They support success and shape character. They challenge assumptions, surface blind spots, and expand the sense of what is possible when trust and generosity are present.

If "managing up" is not your superpower, what one relationship across or beyond your chain could you invest in this week to expand your influence?

If this resonates, share with your network to help others grow influence through real relationships.