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This is one of toughest question which will definitely affect the performance of the Project as well. Considering that the Project Sponsor is also a part of the Project Stakeholder, it is a must that we know how to manage and influence them effectively.
By linking his return to the success factors of the project.
Identify the pro and cons ... be honest, be ethical, have integrity and advise your client with realistic expectations. Most of all ... make it happen or should I say keep your word and show the client he/she "put the money on the right horse" (man/woman)!
Interesting question Joefil, indeed it's one of the tough questions in project management.
First, you need to plan your engagement with the project sponsor, as you cannot simply come whenever you desire, you need to sit with him officially through the progress meetings and steering committee meetings, but you also need to plan one-to-one communication (preferably face-to-face). This way, you will not feel isolated, and you will get to know the sponsor, and his/her objectives and priorities.
Second, you need to be very clear in your messages, every time you report progress, request changes or represent new risks and issues, you need to answer the whole set of questions surrounding them, be very clear about causes and effects, and stress on the impact of that not being actioned, or a request not being fulfilled. You need to be honest, clear, straight to the point, and friendly to be trustworthy.
Eventually, with all your attempts, you will still be new to the client/sponsor, and you will have some noise around items, in which represent a threat for certain stakeholders, and they will attempt to challenge these items and knock them down, and the ugly fact is that the sponsor would likely trust and value the opinions for some. You need to be political, where usually you stand for your solution, and try to convince the sponsor by setting facts, pros and cons if you may, while in other items, you accept the other opinion/solution, as you cannot just win it all, even though it might affect your project, but you need to document these decisions and add these to your risks.
You should have self conidence in yourself b doing work in correct way, if you are in the right way and have a reference , always people will follow you.
If you want to influence the employer, it is very easy to work regularly and psychological understanding of the employer so they can get close to him thus the ability to influence it and are making it feel Bahmatk in the work and effort that you do in business.
As the Six Sigma folks say, start with 'quick wins' - small changes that have an evident impact. Show these to your sponsor to convince them that the concept you are trying to introduce is indeed beneficial.
If Project Manager can explain by his analysis (showing options) that his proposal/solution is in line with sponsor's strategic goal and that is the correct thing to do, sponsor should be convinced. As long as project managers do right things to complete the project and help achieving company's goals, sponsors do not have problems with PM.
PM need to be honest with sponsor and should admit mistakes/failures that helps gaining faith from sponsor.
