If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by a lack of true influence in your business—or felt that simply having a title isn’t enough to inspire your team—you’re not alone. Many leaders struggle to move beyond authority to earn genuine buy-in and engagement. The Five Levels of Leadership, as explored in episode 053 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, serves as a proven blueprint for gaining influence at every stage of your organization.

Through the lens of Chris Goede’s experience and stories directly from the episode, we’ll walk through practical ways to build influence—moving from positional authority to trusted leadership that drives culture and results. For a deeper understanding of these leadership levels, visit our pillar blog.

Practical Ways to Gain Influence in Your Business

Move Beyond the Title—Shift from “Because I Said So” to “I Want To”

Build Influence Through Connection

• Relying only on your title (Level One) limits your ability to influence. Leaders who adopt a “command and control” style see engagement suffer, with teams only meeting minimum expectations. Chris Goede explains the importance of making real connections—Level Two—where people follow because they want to, not because they have to. Building relationships, asking better questions, and understanding your team’s values are concrete steps discussed for increasing discretionary effort and trust.

Win Together—Turn Results into Shared Success

Amplify Influence Through Team Production

• Influential leaders foster environments where results are achieved together (Level Three). The episode shares how adopting “Level Three language” in team discussions creates clarity and strengthens focus. By sharing responsibility for KPIs and producing as a unit, you naturally gain credibility and deepen influence in your business. Team wins are celebrated and accountability becomes a shared standard.

Develop Others—Multiply Your Influence for the Long Term

Practical Leadership Pipeline Tactics

• Influence grows when you invest in developing others (Level Four). Chris Goede gives practical examples from the episode—like intentionally involving a “number two” in meetings or making leadership development a part of daily routines. Leaders are encouraged to actively coach and empower team members to take on new responsibilities, creating a pipeline of influential future leaders. Building personalized development plans and providing ongoing feedback ensure your influence lasts beyond your own tenure.

How to Put it Into Action

• Begin meetings with relationship-building questions to spark Level Two connections.
• Use clear language—such as “let’s switch to Level Three focus”—to align and energize your team when tackling goals.
• Integrate succession planning and leadership development into daily workflows, not just annual reviews.
• For additional actionable insights, explore how common leadership language boosts engagement, practical leadership strategies, and applying the Five Levels of Leadership model in your organization.
• Take a deeper dive into team culture and communication in our guest blog written by Chris Goede.

Looking for a practical resource to help gauge your current influence? Download our free leadership self-check and start taking action today.