Procept courses accredited by the CCA for Gold Seal certification credits

Power, Influence and Politics in Project Management

Power, Influence and Politics in Project Management

The more power you have, the better you are able to get the job done. Ignoring the external and internal politics surrounding your project can be hazardous.

Most project managers have enormous responsibility but not enough formal authority. They cannot succeed without the proper understanding of power and how to use it effectively. Successful project managers recognize the need to evaluate power and political dynamics and the importance of managing stakeholders through influence.

Identify eight forms of power and evaluate your own power level. Develop strategies to increase your total power and learn practical guidelines to influence successfully without formal authority. Analyze the political landscape in your organizations and learn how to convert your adversaries into your allies and manage politics at the project and upper management levels.

The techniques and reminders covered in this highly interactive and engaging workshop will give you many practical tips that you can immediately use to understand the dynamics of power and politics and learn how to use your power effectively in your own organization.

Learning Objectives

Participants will develop and enhance the contributions they make to their organizations by being able to:

  • Understand the dynamics of power and politics to influence stakeholders.
  • Describe the two main components of power and learn to apply them appropriately.
  • Identify eight sources of power and evaluate your own power level.
  • Apply the eight forms of power to influence the engagement of your project team.
  • Identify and employ your personal power to build a high performance team.
  • Describe characteristics and outcomes of power.
  • Develop strategies to increase your total power.

 

Who Should Attend

This seminar is appropriate for anyone — at all experience levels - who needs to lead projects, manage stakeholders, build relationships, negotiate successfully and work with others to achieve results while minimizing unwanted surprises.

Prerequisites

There is no prerequisite for this course.

Materials

You will receive a course binder containing copies of presentation slides, case studies, exercises, and suggested solutions.

What You Will Learn

  • Power and Influence: Eight sources of power; formal/informal power; characteristics and outcomes of power; project manager and power; evaluate your power level, and develop strategies to increase your total power
  • Politics in Project Management: Importance and dynamics of politics; reasons of politics; analysis of political behaviors of project stakeholders and political landscape in your organization; strategies to convert your adversaries and opponents into your allies; and managing politics at the project level and at the upper management level.
  • Project Leadership: Leader versus manager; leadership and the project life cycle.