Customer Success Playbook S3 E34 - Ken Sandy -  Persuasive NOT Positional Power

Episode notes

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Customer Success Playbook, hosts Roman Trebon and Kevin Metzger sit down with Ken Sandy, author of The Influential Product Manager , to uncover the secret sauce behind leadership without formal authority. Ken draws on 25 years of product leadership to explain why "leading through influence" isn't just a survival skill - it's a superpower. From understanding organizational objectives to aligning cross-functional teams around shared goals, Ken emphasizes that effective leadership is rooted in context, not control. Detailed Description: Product managers often find themselves in high-stakes roles without the luxury of direct authority. So how do they drive outcomes, rally teams, and deliver for customers? According to Ken Sandy, the answer lies in mastering the art of influence. In this episode, Ken challenges the common misconception that authority is essential for leadership and argues that real power comes from shared purpose and contextual clarity. Ken's number one tip?

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