The Two Levels of Influence: A Leader’s Journey from Authority to Influence

“Authority is given. Influence is earned. And influence isn’t a mystery. It’s a system. It’s a set of practices that anyone can learn—if they’re willing to do the work.”

Atip Muangsuwan
CEO Coach and Coach Supervisor

Every leader I’ve ever met wants to be influential. But here’s what most of them get wrong: they confuse authority with influence. Authority is given. Influence is earned. And the most influential leaders I know don’t demand attention—they attract it.

This is the story of one such leader. Let’s call him John.

The Executive Who Had Everything—Except What He Really Wanted

John was already a success by any conventional measure. An executive at a global technology company, he commanded respect, managed multimillion-dollar portfolios, and had a corner office with a view that would make most people envious.

But John wasn’t satisfied.

During our first coaching session, he leaned forward in his chair and said something I’ll never forget: “I want to become the CEO within the next five years. But I know that my current leadership style won’t get me there.”

He was right. And he knew it.

John wasn’t just ambitious for his career. He was leading his volunteering community, guiding his family at home, and carrying responsibilities that stretched far beyond the office walls. He needed a kind of leadership that worked everywhere—not just in boardrooms.

What he needed was influence that transcended titles.

The Two Levels of Influence

In my years as an executive coach, I’ve discovered that true influence operates on two distinct levels. Most leaders master one but neglect the other. The ones who become truly unstoppable—the ones who rise to the highest levels and stay there—master both.

Level One: Personal-Level Influence (The EE-FI Model)

This is the foundation. It’s how you influence the people closest to you—your team, your boss, your peers, your family, your community, your customers, your clients, etc.

The EE-FI model is deceptively simple, yet profoundly powerful:

E: Engage — Show up. Be present. Engage with people in one-on-one settings frequently and regularly. Influence doesn’t happen in isolation; it happens in relationships. Engaging is bonding. You create bonding with people.

E: Empathize — This is where most leaders fail. Empathy isn’t just about understanding what someone says. It’s about understanding their expectations, their motivations, their needs, their pain points, their worries, their fears— their psychology. It’s about getting into their mind so completely that you can understand what and how they think, feel and act in a deeper level.

F: Fulfill — Once you truly understand what people need—especially their psychological needs—you fulfill them. You deliver. You become the person who has fulfilled their needs.

I: Influence — And here’s the magic: when you’ve done the first three steps consistently, influence comes to you naturally and automatically. You don’t chase it. It chases you.

Engage to empathize. Empathize to fulfill. Fulfill to influence. It’s as simple as that!

John had been leading with authority. Now he was learning to lead with influence.

Level Two: Public-Level Influence (The VVI+ Model)

But personal-level influence alone isn’t enough for someone with John’s ambitions. To become a CEO—to lead at scale—you need to influence people you’ve never met. You need to shape narratives, build reputations, and create movements.

This is where the VVI+ model comes in:

V: Value — Keep adding and creating value consistently. Not occasionally. Not when it’s convenient. Consistently. You can add value by achieving your organizational goals and solving your organizational problems. Be the person who delivers results—again and again.

V: Visibility — Showcase your value. Don’t hide your light. Find your stages—meetings, conferences, townhalls, cross-functional mega projects—and become visible in 360-degree directions. Up, down, and sideways.

I: Influence — When you keep adding value and becoming visible over a sustained period, influence at the public level follows. This is influence that scales. This is how you become known as the person who gets things done.

+ (Plus): Connections — Build and expand your network in every direction. But here’s the key: apply the EE-FI model to each connection. One conversation at a time. One relationship at a time. Connections and networks help you build your political savvy!

The Integration: Where the Magic Happens

John’s breakthrough came when he realized that these two models weren’t separate—they were two halves of a whole.

The VVI+ model builds your public influence. The EE-FI model builds your personal influence. Together, they create a complete leader—someone who can inspire a room of a thousand people and have a deeply meaningful conversation with one.

This is the blended framework I’ve developed over the years of coaching global executives: VVI+ integrated with EE-FI.

It’s not about choosing one or the other. It’s about becoming a leader who influences at every level—public and personal, macro and micro, visible and invisible.

The Transformation

By the end of our session, John’s energy had shifted. He wasn’t just taking notes—he was seeing himself differently.

“I need to change myself,” he said. “I need to work on my mindset.”

That’s the moment every coach waits for. When a leader stops looking outward for solutions and starts looking inward.

His homework was simple but profound: practice implementing both frameworks over the next two weeks. Not perfectly. Just consistently. And share the results.

When I asked him to sum up our today’s session in one word or phrase, he smiled and said: “On top of the world.”

What This Means for You

Maybe you’re like John. Maybe you’re a leader who’s achieved a lot but knows there’s more. Maybe you’re eyeing that next promotion, that bigger role, that greater impact.

Here’s what I want you to remember:

Authority is given. Influence is earned.

And influence isn’t a mystery. It’s a system. It’s a set of practices that anyone can learn—if they’re willing to do the work.

The VVI+ and EE-FI frameworks are my gift to leaders like you. They’re the result of years of coaching, observing, and refining what actually works.

But frameworks alone don’t create change. Practice creates change. Execution creates change. Consistency creates change. Mindset creates change.

Your Next Step

If John’s story resonates with you—if you’re ready to stop leading with authority and start leading with influence; and if you’re ready for a conversation about your own leadership journey, I’m here.

Because the world doesn’t need more leaders with titles.

It needs leaders with influence.

P.S. John is on track to achieve his CEO goal. But more importantly, he’s becoming the kind of leader people want to follow—not because they have to, but because they choose to. That’s the real measure of influence. And it’s available to you, too.

About Atip Muangsuwan: Atip is an executive leadership coach who specializes in helping high-achieving leaders overcome internal barriers to unlock their full potential and drive organizational success. Through a blend of strategic frameworks and profound personal insights, he empowers leaders in transforming their mindsets, emotional states, and behaviors for lasting impact.