An Influential Project Manager

Be kind to others, for you know not what is in their heart.

Be especially kind to yourself, because you’ll live with your heart forever.

Have high standards, but give yourself a break too.

Reflect on all you have yet to do, but balance that with how far you have come.

Stop inflicting negative emotions on your life (and body) especially when they serve no useful purpose.

Learn from your past, but don’t allow it to blight your future.

Now come on, it’s been a tough week, go put your feet up and switch off for 30 minutes. The world will still be here when you get back.

Why are you so gullible?

I don’t wish to be rude.

You may choose to take it that way, but that’s up to you.

Today it seems like the majority of people are far too gullible, and that poses a problem.

Even the term “fake news” is likely to be sleight-of-hand. Almost all data is presented to suit the agenda.

Why do they do all of this?

Because they know that the majority will fall for it, or at least enough to achieve their goals.

The personal dilemma has become, at least for the more enlightened, how on earth do you know what you can believe, especially when you don’t have the time or the skills of investigation?

Firstly, meditate on this topic rather than just leave it nagging away at the back of your mind. Being able to make sound judgements in the post-trust era is important.

Second, develop your own personal process of enquiry. This could begin with noticing your reaction to what you are hearing. Pausing to consider the likely consequences on your own decisions. Then decide if and how to proceed to verify at an appropriate level.

Third, consider what the real agendas and purposes might be for the source of the information you are hearing. Reporters want headlines, medical experts want visibility, politicians want to be popular, capitalists want to make a lot of money. Outrageous generalisations for sure, but you get the point.

But above all, recognise this phenomenon for what it is, people (increasingly desperate people) vying for your attention, seeking to influence you, and needing to influence you.

Now who has the power?

Oh, and a calm, wry smile helps too!

>>> track me down on LInkedIn or find Gautrey's Influence Blog for more insights.

When it comes to influence, if you do not know what’s on the other person’s mind, you are shooting in the dark.

You cannot do anything other than take aim – and fire into the darkness of their hidden agenda, issues and priorities.

This is wasteful and stupid.

If you want them to say “yes” they will have to make a decision. When making decisions, they will rightly weigh up many factors, including how saying “yes” to you may adversely affect their other concerns.

Ignoring this reality leaves you detached from their decision. All you have done it just pitched over your idea, shooting in the dark, and hoping they will say “yes.”

Catch me on LinkedIn or hunt down Gautrey's Influence Blog for more insights.

There are many reasons why you may well struggle to handle the politics, though these three are hard to beat.

Top of my list, your attitude to workplace politics.

If you hate it you will shy away from it and fail to learn how to do it properly.

Second, you can’t see it.

Lack of awareness will always get you burned sooner or later.

Finally, sorry, you don’t have enough friends.

This is more than having friends in high places. You need friends everywhere: feeding you titbits of intelligence, watching your back, sticking up for you, and much more besides.

So come on, start making friends.

>>> hunt me down on LinkedIn or find me at Gautrey's Influence Blog, consistently providing value since 2008.

If you’ve been passed over for promotion, I can think of three good reasons why.

Firstly, you have not proved you are good enough.

Even if you are good enough, you still have to prove it.

Second possible cause, someone else proves themselves to be better.

They may not be as good as you, but if they convinced the decision makers that they are, you’re toast.

Finally, you’re rubbish at the politics.

More like this at Gautrey's Influence Blog - or track me down on LinkedIn.