Have you ever brought a brilliant idea to leadership, only to hear, "That's not a priority right now," or "We don't have the budget"? It can be frustrating, especially when you know the change is critical for your team or the business. This is a common challenge, but it doesn't have to be the end of the road.
A recent webinar hosted by Christina Martinez de Andino, CEO of CMD Consulting, and Dorian Cunion, an executive coach and consultant at Your Path Coaching and Consulting, offered practical strategies for HR and business leaders to influence change and secure buy-in. Here's a look at the key takeaways from their discussion.
Shift Your Mindset: From HR Leader to Strategic Partner
The first step to influencing change is to change how you are perceived. Traditionally, HR is often seen as a service or operations function—handling payroll and benefits. But to drive meaningful change, you need to be viewed as a strategic business partner.
What does this mean? It means understanding the company's goals and challenges and linking your initiatives directly to business outcomes. It's about speaking the language of operations, finance, and strategy, and bringing practical solutions to the table, not just problems.
A successful example shared in the webinar involved a Fortune 500 bank where a fragmented talent development process was causing frustration for managers and employees. By acting as a strategic partner, a consultant was able to help the HR leadership team:
Gather data:Â They conducted research and focus groups to understand the business's specific needs.
Co-create solutions:Â Instead of dictating a new process, they collaborated with representatives from various departments to design a unified framework.
Build momentum:Â They piloted the new solution in a few business lines to gain early wins and prove the concept before rolling it out company-wide.
The result? A unified, company-wide framework that improved employee trust and confidence, while also increasing HR's credibility.
Become the Expert and Build Your Business Case
To be an effective influencer, you must first be seen as an expert. This means not only mastering your own domain—like knowing HR laws and best practices—but also deeply understanding the business.
Dorian Cunion, drawing on his experience as a business owner and former Retail Executive, highlighted the importance of understanding how profits are generated within your organization. When you can connect your initiatives to profitability and business goals, leaders with P&L responsibility are more likely to listen.
Once you have established your expertise, you can build a compelling business case. This isn't just a proposal; it's a tool to help decision-makers understand the real problem, weigh the risks of inaction, and see a clear path forward. A strong business case should include:
Executive Summary:Â A quick, 30-second overview of the problem and why it matters.
Problem Statement:Â A clear articulation of what's happening and how it aligns with company goals.
Options & Recommendations:Â Presenting viable solutions with pros and cons, along with your recommended path and a rationale for why it's the best choice.
Cost vs. Impact:Â A direct comparison of the investment needed versus the risks of doing nothing.
Map Your Stakeholders and Build a Coalition
Even the best business case can fall flat without a strong strategy for gaining support. You need to identify your stakeholders—the key players, decision-makers, and influencers—and understand their motivations.
The speakers shared several tools for this, including a power-interest grid to categorize stakeholders by their level of influence and interest. You can also use "warm, lukewarm, or cold" ratings to gauge their support and tailor your approach.
The goal is to build a coalition of internal champions who will reinforce your message. This can include finding an executive sponsor or a key influencer who trusts you and can advocate for your idea among their peers. Starting with one-on-one conversations over coffee before a big meeting is a simple, effective way to get early feedback and build buy-in.
Use the Right Tools and Resources
Finally, your communication strategy is crucial. Think of influencing change like a marketing campaign. You need to nurture relationships, educate your audience, and then make a compelling case. Consider the following:
Diverse tools:Â Use a variety of tools, like presentations, one-pagers, or videos, to appeal to different communication styles.
Hard facts and data:Â Support your case with data, research on what peers are doing, and insights from industry publications.
Leverage other stakeholders:Â Gather feedback from customers, vendors, or even competitors to build a more robust case.
By adopting these strategies, you can position yourself as a powerful catalyst for change within your organization.
Want to learn more? The full video covers these topics in much greater detail, including practical examples, templates, and Q&A from the live audience. Watch the full webinar on YouTube to dive deeper into how you can become a more effective influencer and strategic partner.
