Manage without hierarchical authority

Many projects require getting other people to collaborate without hierarchical authority. How to manage this?

Instill a collaborative climate

Underline the shared vision, e.g. Highlight the shared interests of those concerned.
Build trust by setting clear and precise objectives.
Promote solidarity to make collective efforts more meaningful.

Cultivate your credibility

Keep your promises, even if this means making commitments that are more modest, but realistic.
Be frank about your limitations.
Ensure the consistency of your messages over time.

Establish reciprocal support

Look at the situation from the other person’s point of view, to adapt your demands to his or her needs and constraints.
Identify resources that you control which could be used as “currency”, e.g. Provide helpful contacts, offer support on a decision, etc.

Passez à l’action !

Identify « exchange currencies » to obtain the support of a counterpart (15 min)

Reciprocity is one of the most effective means to foster the collaboration between people who have no hierarchical link nor a client/supplier relationship.

Put yourself in your counterparts’ position: what are their priorities? Are there resources or information to which they would like to have access? What are their sources of motivation? Who in terms of contacts would they gain from meeting?

Then identify the resources available to you that could raise their interest – without necessarily costing you much. E.g.: Temporary transfer of staff, information or experience sharing, connecting them to a key person, supporting them during a collective decision.

Don’t necessarily expect an immediate favor in return: an effective cooperation generally balances itself out over time.

Ask for a colleague’s assistance to initiate a collaborative dynamic (10 min)

It is easier to obtain the collaboration of others by taking little steps rather than asking from the onset a committing agreement.

Identify someone whose support you are wanting, but on whom you have no hierarchical authority.

First ask him/her a favor that costs him/her little. E.g.: An advice on a report you are writing, support to get the OK from an executive, a contact…

Then proceed by successive requests: having been already involved, it is likely he/she will be more prone to accept collaborating with you on larger scale projects.

Assess your credibility (20 min)

Credibility is crucial to get others to cooperate.

Ask yourself and some of your trusted team members: are you perceived by the team as someone credible?

Are you reputed for keeping to your word?
Are your intentions clear to everyone, and are is there trust in the main action paths you are set to follow?
Are your networks sufficiently diversified and influential to obtain the resources the team will need?
Are you reputed as someone who can sit in his team’s seat and understand what are the stakes and the priorities?

According to the responses to these questions, identify the action plan you need to reinforce your credibility. E.g.: If you were not able to keep a commitment, explain why, potentially apologize, and demonstrate how you would avoid the same mistake again. Also spare the time to articulate your vision of the objectives and the means of action of the team, and discuss them openly.

Practical Tips

> Develop your lateral authority

> A few tactics for getting the commitment of others without resorting to authority

Find out more

> Obtain cooperation without using authority