Leaders are frequently tasked with driving change and delivering outcomes—launching new initiatives, fixing broken processes, or reshaping culture—without formal authority over many of the people they need to influence. While it’s been famously stated that “leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less,” success in these situations often depends not only on talent and skill, but also on visible backing from above. That air cover frequently isn’t automatic. When leaders are asked to push for change without explicit support, even the most capable can sometimes falter. Without executive backing, they can face credibility gaps, resistance can harden, and burnout can follow as they try to push through alone.
