Managing for Non-Managers

• Identify where work is stalling when progress depends on people they do not formally manage.
• Create clear, actionable asks that define what is needed, by when, from whom, why it matters, and what “done” means.
• Test whether a “yes” is reliable by checking priority, capacity, timing, ownership, and next steps.
• Use follow-through moves that keep work visible without sounding like chasing, nagging, or escalating too soon.
• Choose whether to pause, reset, push, or escalate when work starts to slip or an agreement is no longer holding.
• Use AI responsibly to pressure-test asks, follow-ups, resets, and escalation messages while keeping judgment, tone, and relationship context in human hands.

Moving Work Forward Without Formal Authority

• Why work stalls when individual contributors depend on people they do not formally manage
• Common friction points, including vague asks, soft yeses, competing priorities, delayed replies, and unclear ownership
• How social stakes can make follow-up feel awkward, even when the work needs movement

Making Clearer Asks and Testing Agreement

• Turn vague, buried, or overly soft requests into asks people can understand, prioritize, and act on
• Define what is needed, by when, from whom, why it matters, and what “done” means
• Test whether a “yes” is reliable by checking priority, capacity, timing, ownership, and next steps

Keeping Progress Visible and Recovering When Work Stalls

• Use follow-through moves such as nudges, checks, checkpoints, and resets to keep work visible
• Choose whether to pause, reset, push, or escalate based on urgency, risk, authority, and previous attempts
• Use AI to pressure-test asks, follow-ups, resets, and escalation messages so they stay clear, calm, and work-focused

There are no prerequisites for this course.

This course is designed for individual contributors who need to move work forward through people they do not formally manage, including:

• Coordinators, specialists, analysts, advisors, administrators, and project contributors
• Professionals who need action, input, decisions, approvals, or follow-through from others
• People who coordinate handoffs, reviews, shared deliverables, stakeholder input, or cross-team work
• Employees who depend on peers, colleagues, partners, or stakeholders to keep work moving
• Anyone dealing with soft agreement, vague updates, delayed replies, unclear ownership, or stalled commitments
• Those who want to follow up, reset expectations, or escalate work issues without damaging relationships