Power Fades. Influence Lasts. Building Relationships Before You Need Them

What does it actually mean to lead without authority — and why do so many smart, capable leaders never learn how? Mike Krupit spent 25 years building startups from engineer to CTO to COO to CEO before founding Trajectify, and his answer is simple: most people try to lead with power because it's faster. The problem is it runs out. In this episode, Mike and Kent dig into why influence outlasts authority, what it actually takes to build it, and why the shift to remote and hybrid work is quietly eroding the relationship capital leaders depend on most.Guest: Mike Krupit is the CEO of Trajectify, an executive coaching and advisory firm helping leaders and organizations break through growth plateaus by developing stronger people skills alongside stronger strategy.In this episode:[01:49] — Mike's career arc: from engineer to CEO across 25 years in Silicon Valley startups[04:54] — How startup leaders skip leadership levels vs. the corporate path — and what each approach misses[12:14] — The story that crystallized it: a director who quit rather than learn to lead without the CEO's authority[15:17] — Where Mike starts when leaders complain about "no accountability" — and why it's almost always a relationship problem[18:27] — The bank account metaphor: why you have to make deposits before you can make withdrawals[22:11] — How remote and hybrid work is unwinding the basic building blocks of influence[25:19] — "Leaders should never eat alone" — the VP of HR who told Mike to put down his lunch and go to the cafeteria[29:24] — Relationship mapping and the "is this manipulation?" pushback Mike and Kent both get from clients[34:55] — Mike's summary: power fades fast, influence lasts long, and 80% of it is rapport[35:59] — Advice for promotion seekers: lead with authenticity over idealism[37:35] — Advice for the newly promoted: your fears haven't happened and probably won't — take the next stepResources mentioned:Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi — the book on intentional relationship-building that came up in the conversationTeddy Roosevelt quote: "People don't care what you think until they think that you care"Trajectify — trajectify.comLinks for today's show:Mike Krupit on LinkedInTrajectifyKent Kniebel on LinkedInThe Promoted Leader ToolkitMusic for this podcast comes from a live recording of the song Needle & Thread and is provided with permission by Pert' Near Sandstone. Check them out on pertnearsandstone.com and on all major streaming platforms.Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review wherever you listen — it helps more leaders find the show.