An Influential Project Manager

Nor is it the way that you do it.

Gravitas is what you are, at the deepest level, when you know that you can handle whatever comes at you, with ease.

Many believe that you can paper over the cracks. Put on a serious looking face. Tough it out. Well, perhaps you can, but many will notice that you are not as confident as you are pretending. People may even be amused by your charade.

And, this is where things start to deteriorate. Unexplained levels of confidence are met with suspicion. If trust is what you want (and it is what you ought to be aiming for), and you are hiding your real lack of confidence, you could be heading for trouble.

On the other side, if you display your lack of confidence, what then? You may appear authentic for sure, but will people take the action you want them to take? Or, maybe they will just sit there wondering why you lack the confidence in what you are saying.

Yet gravitas is what is needed, if you are to get on, become recognised in a positive light, and join the senior group. A person who has arrived.

Solving this dilemma, developing this sense of presence and poise, it what I'll be exploring with those attending my webinar here next week: Gravitas: Making a Powerful Impact  (August 15th).

As is usual in my webinars, I'll be getting everyone involved, sharing their experiences in the world of project management, and ensuring that you walk away with some tangible benefit that can help you to improve the impact you create around you and your work. 

See you then!

Colin

You may well think that the ultimate position to be in is one where you can influence other people, but they are unable to influence you. That is fantastic in the short term, but very unsafe longer term.

For a relationship to really work, both sides need to feel that they can influence the other side. If they feel strongly about something, they should have the chance to negotiate for a change. That is the only way that both sides can win in the long term.

• What's the balance of influence like in your major relationships?
• Is there evidence of the other party attempting to influence you?
• When was the last time you asked them how they felt?

If the other side of your relationship doesn't feel confident to challenge or influence you, they will soon begin to feel oppressed. Oppressed people will look for ways out or seethe until the revolution.