influence-craft

Claude uses this skill when:

• Need buy-in from multiple stakeholders
• Navigating organizational politics
• Building influence without authority
• Managing up effectively

1. Sources of Power (Source: Jeffrey Pfeffer)

7 Sources:

1. Expertise - Being the expert
2. Resources - Controlling budget/headcount
3. Relationships - Network and connections
4. Information - Knowing what others don't
5. Position - Formal authority
6. Charisma - Personal magnetism
7. Will - Persistence and determination

2. Building Political Capital

The Approach:

```

1. Map power structure

- Who decides?

- Who influences decisions?

- Who controls resources?

1. Build relationships

- Help others succeed

- Offer expertise

- Share credit

1. Accumulate wins

- Start with small wins

- Build reputation

- Expand influence

```

---

Template: Stakeholder Mapping

```markdown

# Stakeholder Map: [Initiative]

• Name: [role]

- Power level: [High/Medium/Low]

- Support: [For/Against/Neutral]

- Concerns: [list]

- Approach: [how to influence]

• Name: [role]

- Influences: [who]

- Cares about: [what]

- Approach: [strategy]

• Early supporters: [list]
• Fence-sitters: [list]
• Opposition: [list]

1. Build coalition with: [names]
2. Address concerns of: [names]
3. Pre-meetings with: [names]
4. Present when: [timing]

```

---

🤝 Influence Checklist

Preparation:

• [ ] Map power structure
• [ ] Identify stakeholders
• [ ] Understand motivations
• [ ] Build coalition

Execution:

• [ ] Pre-meetings (surface concerns)
• [ ] Customized pitches (per stakeholder)
• [ ] Data + story (logic + emotion)
• [ ] Build momentum (early wins)

---

Jeffrey Pfeffer:

> "Power is the ability to get things done. If you want to make an impact, you need to understand power."

On Building Influence:

> "The most successful people build their political capital before they need it."