Navigating Power, Visibility, and Influence at Work with Executive Coach Melody Wilding

In this episode, I sit down with Melody Wilding to talk about a skill that has become increasingly important in today's matrixed organizations: managing up. But not in the traditional sense of simply keeping your boss informed. We explore what it really means to build influence with decision-makers, stakeholders, and leaders whose priorities, communication styles, and levels of involvement may be very different from your day-to-day contacts. Whether you're navigating internal relationships or working with complex clients, Melody shares practical frameworks for creating alignment, building trust, and increasing your impact without feeling political or inauthentic.

We also discuss how to identify the people who truly influence outcomes, make the most of limited access to senior leaders, and communicate your value in ways that resonate with decision-makers.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

Why "managing up" means much more than managing your relationship with a direct supervisor

How to identify the stakeholders who have the greatest influence over key decisions

A simple power-mapping framework for navigating complex organizations

Better questions to ask when trying to understand what decision-makers truly care about

How to communicate updates in ways that highlight business impact instead of activity

The role curiosity plays in creating meaningful networking opportunities

Why involving others in the process often creates stronger buy-in than presenting a polished solution

How to use brief interactions with senior leaders to build stronger long-term relationships

If you enjoy conversations about influence, business development, leadership, and relationship-building, I think you'll find a lot to consider in this discussion. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes, and if you found this conversation valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend who would enjoy it as well.