George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
In the realm of projects, economies of many forms exist.
When recognized, a project manager's purchasing power (i.e., their ability to get things done) is enhanced. What does this metaphor represent to you? – please provide examples. Saving Changes...
Purchasing Power (i.e., the ability to get things done) through:
- Trustworthiness / Steadfastness (@Eric, @Rami)
- Relationships (@Lori, @Rami)
- Reputation (@Rami)
- Political/Social capital (@Kiron)
These are right on target. What are other means that we can use to build Capital/Influence?
George -
Expert power - if one is recognized as being a SME or thought leader in a particular domain, that will provide a fair bit of influence over those who respect that knowledge.
Kiron Saving Changes...
RAJON BANERJEEKalyani, District: Nadia, West Bengal, India
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dec 23, 2019 5:02 PM
Replying to George Freeman
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Purchasing Power (i.e., the ability to get things done) through:
- Trustworthiness / Steadfastness (@Eric, @Rami)
- Relationships (@Lori, @Rami)
- Reputation (@Rami)
- Political/Social capital (@Kiron)
These are right on target. What are other means that we can use to build Capital/Influence?
knowledge Saving Changes...
Alexandre CostaScrum Master| Integer Consulting - Pictet technologiesLoures, Portugal
George,
Of course all the suggestions given by others members are important and valuable and in practice they host almost everything a project manager must be to get things done, allow me the boldness to add two more which in my experience could undermine all the previous ones.
1 - Consistency in decisions and attitudes; (unconscious bias) 2 - Promises are to keep;
The first one at team level is very importante causes divisions, misunderstandings, and this occurs more times than expected due to unconscious bias. All that influencie the behavior of the team has direct influencie on the capabilities of get the things done. ( As complement to this situations acording to the compositon of the team we could do a serie of written assessments to test our unconscious bias, this is an important ethical process to evaluate our selfs as persons and how we tend to relate with different kind of persons or cultures)
The second one at person level causes a break of trust, even than the project manager is not responsible for the broken promise and be a reliable person, remember to make promisses that you can control. Situations like these can be a trap for many project managers. I already seen many times important elements, abandon the project and organization due to broken promises regarding their aspirations, improving quality of work etc ...
Among the excellent responses, allow me to add the chief drivers of all attributed means( intangible currencies) to build influence in PM. These are Emotional Intelligence, Intuitiveness and Effective Communication. With these three you can unlock the most hostile/close minded people and establish long lasting trust and friendships. Saving Changes...
Eric EvansSenior Project Manager | Savannah River Nuclear SolutionsAugusta, Ga, United States
Communication Rapport Relationship Trustworthiness Influence. Influence that can be used as currency. Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
Purchasing Power (i.e., the ability to get things done) through:
- Trustworthiness / Steadfastness (@Eric, @Rami, @Vincent, @Rajon, @Alexandre, @Eric)
- Relationships / EI (@Lori, @Rami, @Rajon, @Afamefuna)
- Reputation (@Rami, @Alexandre, @Eric)
- Political/Social capital (@Kiron, @Vincent)
- Transparency (@Vincent, @Rami)
- Effective Communication (@Rami, @Rajon, @Afamefuna, @Eric)
- Expert Power (@Kiron, @Luis)
- Intuitiveness (@Afamefuna)
I agree that these characteristics are influencers. However, to simplify the conversation, I have categorized the above into the following:
- Emotional Intelligence / Soft Skills (foundational elements)
- Political Capital
- Expert Power
Using the term “currency” in my question may appear to be a negative connotation to our profession, but I use it metaphorically to challenge others to recognize the need (i.e., our need) to build “personalized toolkits.” Although metaphorical, when we place intangibles into our toolkit, they seemingly materialize into tangible items that we can touch and wield. What’s in your toolkit (rhetorically stated)?
Keeping this metaphor alive, what else should be in the toolkit, should it be carried on one's person or left in storage to be retrieved when needed, etc.
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Dec 24, 2019 11:34 AM
Kiron Bondale
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I'd suggest that one which isn't covered in your triad, George, is the ability to tailor our approach to best fit a given situation. This applies to everything from situational leadership to tailoring the life cycle or PM practices we bring to bear.
Purchasing Power (i.e., the ability to get things done) through:
- Trustworthiness / Steadfastness (@Eric, @Rami, @Vincent, @Rajon, @Alexandre, @Eric)
- Relationships / EI (@Lori, @Rami, @Rajon, @Afamefuna)
- Reputation (@Rami, @Alexandre, @Eric)
- Political/Social capital (@Kiron, @Vincent)
- Transparency (@Vincent, @Rami)
- Effective Communication (@Rami, @Rajon, @Afamefuna, @Eric)
- Expert Power (@Kiron, @Luis)
- Intuitiveness (@Afamefuna)
I agree that these characteristics are influencers. However, to simplify the conversation, I have categorized the above into the following:
- Emotional Intelligence / Soft Skills (foundational elements)
- Political Capital
- Expert Power
Using the term “currency” in my question may appear to be a negative connotation to our profession, but I use it metaphorically to challenge others to recognize the need (i.e., our need) to build “personalized toolkits.” Although metaphorical, when we place intangibles into our toolkit, they seemingly materialize into tangible items that we can touch and wield. What’s in your toolkit (rhetorically stated)?
Keeping this metaphor alive, what else should be in the toolkit, should it be carried on one's person or left in storage to be retrieved when needed, etc.
I'd suggest that one which isn't covered in your triad, George, is the ability to tailor our approach to best fit a given situation. This applies to everything from situational leadership to tailoring the life cycle or PM practices we bring to bear. Saving Changes...
