"Let’s call it what it is"

These days, we don’t talk about power in organisations.

We talk about influence.

• “She has a lot of influence on the team.”
• “He’s not a manager, but people really listen to him.”
• “She’s got the ear of leadership.”

It sounds softer. More palatable. Less… hierarchical.

But let’s call it what it is:

It’s the ability to shape what happens, even when it’s not your decision to make.
To set direction, shift priorities, or quietly tilt the outcome of a conversation.

You don’t need a title to have it.
And if you do have a title, your influence travels even further—whether you intend it or not.

So why does this matter?

Because when we avoid the word power, we stop noticing how it shapes the room.
We pretend we’re all equals in the meeting, even though we’re not.

And that’s when misunderstandings, unspoken tension, and silence creep in.

It’s not good or bad.
But it is always there.

Until next time,
Dermot
​The Messy Middle

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