Higher Education CoP - Influencing Without Authority

Abstract

We will discuss a skill known as "influencing without authority" and how it can be used when managing projects with both internal and external stakeholders. Influencing without authority is simply what it sounds like...it is the ability to influence others without having any power over them. This is an important skill when managing projects across functions within your own organization and especially when managing a project that involves external project members in other organizations. You need others involved in the project to be on the same page and to be focused on the same goals you have as the project manager. Influence in general is a key skill but sometimes you don't have authority over all members of the project team...this is when you need to be able to influence without authority.

Learning Objectives

Participants will learn how to accomplish project goals using the skill of "influencing without authority" with other project stakeholders.

Speaker

Chad Helton

Chad Helton is a National Oncology Account Director with AstraZeneca and has been in the biopharma industry for over 20 years and AstraZeneca for 15 years in multiple roles including sales, leadership, training, and market access. In his current role as National Oncology Account Director, he is charged with managing the strategic business relationships with cancer center leaders. A part of managing these business partnerships has involved managing multiple quality improvement projects with national cancer centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. These QI projects have involved many different stakeholders within AstraZeneca as well as from other external organizations. While working with both the internal and external organization partners, he has had to use a skill referred to as "influencing without authority". In both his professional and personal life, he enjoys building relationships to make the world a better place and is solution oriented in his approach...at times to his children's frustration.Chad lives in Winston-Salem and is married to his wife of 25 years, has 3 kids ages 20, 16, and 14, and three dogs ages 15, 8, and 8 months. He is a Tar Heel and loves sports, music, and boating.