Trust Cannot Be Recruited

What determines the quality of the relationship between a sponsor and a project manager is trust.

When trust is there, between 50 and 60% of the project is already on the right track. And trust cannot be commanded. It’s an alchemy, an encounter. It’s when two people take pleasure in working together.

But trust is not complicity. It’s not the yes-man project manager who agrees with everything. It’s a relationship where the PM can say things that are hard to hear to the sponsor — and vice versa.

If I were a recruiter, yes, I would check the basic technical skills. But that’s not the most important thing. The most important question is: will this project manager have that trust relationship with this sponsor?

I would focus on the personality that best matches the sponsor’s personality. I would spend much more time understanding the sponsor’s character than focusing solely on technical background.

Trust cannot be recruited. It must be verified.