The Influencer’s Advantage: Ashkan Rajaee’s Hidden Lifehack to Winning Corporate Power Without a Title

Ever feel like you’re doing everything right, but still getting ignored in meetings, sales calls, or pitches?

Ashkan Rajaee says it’s because you’re aiming at the wrong person. And the real power player might not even have a title that screams authority.

This isn’t just another motivational soundbite. It’s a strategic lifehack for navigating power structures inside modern companies. One that can dramatically increase your impact, even if you’re not at the top.

Welcome to the influencer’s advantage.

The Most Powerful Person in the Room Isn’t Always the Loudest

In Part 1 of this series, we explored Rajaee’s unique breakdown of the modern corporate decision-making process: decision-makers, influencers, and signatories. Most professionals aim for the person with the title. But in reality, influence is often held by someone who operates behind the scenes.

These people aren’t in the spotlight. They might not even show up on the leadership page. But they are the ones your proposal lives or dies with. They’re the influencers. And if you want to win, you have to work with them, not around them.

Who Are Corporate Influencers?

Ashkan Rajaee puts it clearly:

“Influencers are the ones doing the homework. They’re the ones whose opinions actually shape the final decision.”

Think of them as the trusted voices inside the company. When a manager or executive has doubts, they turn to the influencer and ask, “What do you think of this?”

If you ignore these people, you lose the deal. If you understand and empower them, you move forward faster than anyone else.

How to Identify a True Influencer

Here are a few telltale signs you’re dealing with an influencer:

• They ask smart, tactical questions. Not theoretical ones.
• They bring up real-world challenges like workflows, timelines, or team reactions.
• Others in the room tend to pause and look to them before responding.
• They might not show their face on video calls. They’re there to listen and assess, not perform.

Influencers care about how your offer affects their daily workflow. If it makes their job easier, they’re your biggest ally. If it complicates things, they can quietly block progress without you ever knowing.

How to Win Over an Influencer: Ashkan Rajaee’s Field-Tested Lifehack

Ashkan Rajaee has helped countless startups and executives succeed by unlocking the hidden layer of influence inside companies. Here’s how he suggests building trust with an internal influencer.

1. Make It Easy for Them

Influencers are busy. They don’t want more problems. They want clarity and simplicity.

Use clear, bullet-point emails. Summarize decisions. Offer templates or materials they can use to pitch internally. Ask, “What can I take off your plate?”

2. Treat Them Like a Partner

Don’t pitch to them. Collaborate with them. Share drafts. Ask for feedback. Frame the conversation like you’re working together, not selling something.

3. Create Wins They Can Share

If you give an influencer a tool, insight, or shortcut that helps them look good internally, they’ll become your silent champion. They’ll advocate for you when you’re not in the room, which is where real decisions often happen.

Why This Applies Everywhere

Whether you're in sales, recruiting, consulting, or even in-house corporate roles, there are influencers in every company. They might be operations managers, product leads, or veteran employees who have the trust of leadership.

If you learn how to work with them, you bypass endless red tape and increase your chances of success dramatically. This is more than communication. It’s leverage.

Flip the Script: Become an Influencer Yourself

This lifehack works in reverse too. You don’t need a leadership title to influence key decisions. You just need to make other people’s lives easier and earn their trust.

• Share clear, thoughtful input before others ask for it
• Be the person who understands the problem before offering a solution
• Stay calm and focused under pressure

When you do that consistently, people will start checking with you before making moves. You’ll gain authority without needing permission.

Final Takeaway: Influence Beats Authority

Ashkan Rajaee teaches us that success isn’t just about getting to the top. It’s about understanding how power flows through an organization and learning how to work with the people who actually shape decisions.

The influencer’s advantage is real. Once you spot it, you can use it to move faster, smarter, and with less resistance.

And best of all, anyone can use it.

Coming Soon in Part 3:

“Selling Safety: How to Win Over Executive Signatories Without Sounding Desperate”

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