Earning Trust through Power You Own

The Practical Project Manager earns trust through power:  positional power (you are the boss), expertise power (you do what you do very well), and/or relationship power (people trust you will get the job done).

Because project managers are often "on loan" or allocated to projects, they often must lead teams without real positional power.  Starting with a new team, a track record is not evident which makes it difficult to demonstrate expertise.  

Earning trust through the power of relationships is often the best and quickest way to establish the power you own.  Build your relationship power today:

• Do you validate and respect others' points of view?
• Do you meet, greet, and seek out people you are depending on and people depending on you?
• Are you setting the tone? There is no reason to be mean or angry even in the most difficult situations. Face difficulties with professionalism and dignity.
• Are you building relationships and friendships, being careful about "mixing business with pleasure"?
• Are you listening more, speaking less? Assume the speaker is right when listening; you will learn more and actually hear what they are saying
• Follow the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you