# Talking to the Right People By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-10-02 Within any organization, one doesn’t need to convince everybody to get something accomplished. One needs only persuade the few people who make decisions. Seldom is an organization run democratically. Spending time attempting to convince everybody of the soundness of one’s idea is inefficient and likely ineffective. Most of the time, such an approach is a distraction. The key to being effective in influencing organizational decision-making is to assess how decisions are made, who influences those decisions, and who ultimately has the authority to make decisions. Talking to the “right” people is essential. So, too, is talking to them effectively. There is a tendency to spend time talking to everybody but those most important to whom to talk. This is avoidance. One doesn’t feel comfortable talking directly to those in authority, so one talks to one’s peers. This is potentially pleasing but doesn’t amount to much. If one doesn’t have the authority to implement an organizational change, it is doubtful that one’s peers do. Becoming comfortable talking to those in power is an essential step in becoming effective in influencing organizational decisions. Often, those in power feel isolated from those within the organization and welcome discussing topics of strategic value. Take time to assess how a given organization functions. Understanding what gets done, by whom, and how things are decided is important if one wants to make a change. This requires doing the assessment prior to needing to influence change. Strategic observation is the first step. #### Related Items [[People]] [[Power]] [[Decision-making]] [[Organization]] [[Authority]] [[Influence]] [[Strategy]] [[Change]]