To Gain Influence, Give Others a Seat at the Table

In my previous blogs published by WOTC, I wrote about owning your voice and about finding the right room - the kind that does not just accept you but elevates you. 

This time, I want to talk about what happens next. 

Because once you find your voice, and once you find the right room, leadership asks something more of you. It asks you to make space. 

A Seat at the Table Is Just the Beginning 

We talk a lot about getting a seat at the table. And yes, that matters. Inclusion is important. It is a starting point. 

But a seat at the table does not automatically equal influence. Influence happens when voices are invited in. When perspectives are genuinely considered. When someone says, “I would love to hear your take,” or “You should present this,” or “Let’s make sure they are part of this conversation.” 

I have been in rooms where I had a seat but no voice. And I have been in rooms where someone made sure I had both. That difference stays with you. It shapes the kind of leader you become. 

YOU Were Hired for a Reason 

As leaders, it is easy to feel the pressure to have all the answers. To lead from the front. To drive every decision. 

But here is something I remind myself often, and something I tell my team directly: YOU were hired for a reason. 

Not to sit quietly 

Not to simply execute 

Not to nod along 

When I encourage my team and others I work with to challenge me, it is not symbolic. I mean it. I want them to push back, refine the thinking, and elevate the outcome.  

Because when people feel safe enough to question, contribute, and own their ideas, the work gets better. And so do we. 

Influence Expands When You Share It 

In my blog about owning your voice, I shared how I was once labeled “demanding.” The truth is, I care deeply about standards and outcomes. But influence is not built by holding the microphone tighter. It is built by handing it over. 

Some of the most powerful moments I have witnessed as a leader were when someone on my team stepped forward, owned the room, led the initiative, and found their voice. In those moments, you see influence being shared, confidence growing, and future leaders being shaped. 

When you give others visibility, when you shine a light on their work, when you say, “This was their idea,” something shifts. 

Trust grows. Confidence grows. Collective ownership grows. And your influence multiplies. 

Creating the Kind of Rooms That Elevated You 

In my blog about the right room, I wrote about spaces that challenge and energize you - the ones that do not just tolerate you but champion you. 

Now I ask myself a different question: am I creating that kind of room for someone else? 

Whether it is designing global programs, building impactful tools, mentoring women in technology through ERGs, or simply inviting someone quieter into the conversation, it all comes back to the same belief. 

Leadership is not about being the most powerful voice in the room. It is about making sure powerful voices do not go unheard. If You Want More Influence Build a bigger table. Invite someone who has not spoken yet. Ask for a perspective you have not heard. Credit ideas publicly. Encourage challenge instead of silence. 

Because influence is not measured by how many people listen when you speak. 

It is measured by how many people feel empowered to speak because of you. 

Your Turn 

Think about the last time someone pulled out a chair for you. Who made space for you? Who championed your voice? Who reminded you that you belonged there? 

Now ask yourself - who can you invite into the conversation next? 

This week, try one small action. Invite someone quieter to share their perspective, credit someone’s idea publicly, or step back so someone else can lead. Those moments may feel small, but they build confidence, trust, and future leaders. 

And when you do, let them know: You lead this. I trust you. And I am here if you need me. 

Because influence multiplies when we choose to share it.