How to Build Trust in Project-Stakeholder Relationships

Project stakeholders' trust in your management abilities increases your clout in decision-making.

Stakeholders' trust is essential to providing outstanding work in project-development teams. Trust infuses confidence in abilities and character, then extends independence in decision-making, which allows you to control the process of getting tasks done. Before accepting an assignment, you must consider the stakeholder's concerns, identify alternatives and provide feedback on project outlines. Establish rapport before you begin work to help smooth out the process and make boundaries known. After boundaries are established, you can use these steps to focus on building and keeping trust, while providing outstanding services to project stakeholders.

Things You'll Need

• Meeting room
• Project outline
• Computer with Internet access

Instructions

1. Research your project stakeholders' business histories to learn about their work style. Contact previous managers or supervisors who managed previous projects for details. Make notes of key decision-makers, preferences in work style, meeting locations and favorite restaurants for business meetings. Find out common goals vital to understanding client needs.

2. Establish integrity in the beginning. Keep your word if you make a promise pertaining to meeting times, dates and locations, so stakeholders are confident in your ability to get things done. Be patient in establishing a relationship for stakeholders' confidence in your management style and professional demeanor.

3. Open lines of communication. Invite stakeholders to preliminary proceedings to meet, greet and converse about project expectations. Ask for suggestions, listen and give speakers credit for ideas and recognition for participation. Keep minutes of the brainstorming session for each party to review prior to creating a project outline of the work plan.

4. Define the stakeholders' values, visions and support for the project's proceedings. Use their work style as a guideline to build trustworthiness in your decision-making abilities, experience and understanding of the real value of the project.

5. Disclose information on a consistent basis. Project status reports should contain details of task delegations, vendor changes, finished deliverables and requests for extensions. Keep stakeholders updated with any problems you find in completing or meeting a milestone, instead of missing deadlines.

6. Reiterate stakeholder suggestions for support. Use stakeholders' suggestions to develop a support system to link ideas, commitments and project development into their vision. Ensure that you receive feedback and confirmations from your project liaison before making important decisions affecting the budget, project approach and its completion.

7. Evaluate your project's progress on a weekly basis. Conduct meetings with key players managing tasks in your team. Introduce your team of professionals to stakeholders to build confidence and place a face with responsibilities. Invite stakeholders to monthly meetings. Allow project liaisons to listen in via conference calls, video calls or to meet in-person. Make arrangements to host project review sessions to target specific issues, including emergencies.

Tips & Warnings

• Focus on client satisfaction and confidence in your abilities.

• Keep team members aligned with project goals and expectations.

• Do not overstep boundaries after project begins.

• Do not withhold information.

References

• TTG Consultants; Five Ways to Build and Lose Trust in the Workplace; Dave Bowman
• PeterBarronStark Companies; Building Trust with Your Supervisor and Employees
• The Enlightened Manager; Building Trust In the Workplace (October 02,2007); Cheri Baker