The Behavioural Brief / Method note / 9 September 2026
Influence is a relationship, not a label.
Understanding who is consulted is the beginning of influence analysis, not its conclusion.
Distinguish access from authority
A person who attends meetings may have access without decision authority. A less visible adviser may shape how options are framed. Record observed interactions and their timing before drawing conclusions about influence.
Ask what passes through the relationship
Information, reassurance, access and approval are different forms of influence. A relationship map becomes useful when an edge explains what is exchanged and what evidence supports that description.
Look for changes in context
Advice that matters in a commercial negotiation may carry little weight in a family dispute. The question is not simply who influences an individual, but on which issues and under what circumstances.
Make uncertainty visible
Use dated observations and distinguish formal roles from inferred relationships. Conflicting accounts should remain visible. A map can guide further enquiry without presenting every connection as an established fact.