 How should we think about the concept of influence as leaders? Traditional lines of accounting and formal responsibilities are normally well understood and are often spelled out by policy or even visible on an organizational chart. Influence, on the other hand, that is, the skill and ability to informally affect change is a much more subtle art and it is clear that leadership influence plays a critical, if undefined role in organizational success. As leaders, we gain influence within and across organizations through putting in the hard work of gaining the trust of others and by consistently modeling professional behavior and acumen. Think about those leaders around you who exert the most influence. I think we would agree that these are some of the most important individuals in any organization. What is notable is that the degree of influence that these leaders wield may or may not be tied to their positional authority. It's worth examining how these exemplars gained this influence and how they maintain it. When we talk about the art of leadership, what we really mean is the art of influence. Lead well this week.