P & C Professionals often have to influence without formal authority, and may well be engaging with stakeholders who are more senior than they are.  In addition, the competing needs and priorities of stakeholders, can derail P & C efforts to ensure effective execution of critical P & C initiatives. 
 
Influencing skills are a cornerstone capability for High Performing P & C Professionals: 

1.     to successfully engage and build relationships with key stakeholders across the business  

2.     to confidently negotiate during times of limited resources and competing priorities

3.     to improve perceptions and demonstrate value-adding contributions that meet, if not exceed, business expectations 

4.     to inspire action, and play a key part in driving values based commercial outcomes  

5.     to successfully allocate time for proactive and strategic activities