* Authenticity is critically important, and that has three pillars: understanding XFN priorities, transparency and empathy. * Building credibility is essential in a flat organization; boasting and ego-driven credentials are anti-patterns. * Influencing technical decisions begins with active listening and signaling that you understand the issues as well as the desired outcomes. * Hard conversations are part of authentic communication. You have to tackle these head-on with openness and self-awareness of your own weaknesses.