When you start a project, ask each stakeholder what they personally want out of the project. This creates a personal relationship with each stakeholder and demonstrates your concern with them and their Needs. To gain the trust necessary to dig out these goals, you must be honest and up front about your intentions and project boundaries in a non-formal, casual way. Usually, you will encounter some answers that do not match the documented or verbalized goals. Do not worry about whether the stated goals are real, perceived or petty… just remember them. Each stakeholder will have various personal,professional and corporate goals.
After you have spoken with each of the stakeholders, have a public kick-off meeting and ask all of the stakeholders to be present. State the documented written goals in the contract and ask if everyone agrees. The purpose of this meeting is to establish your position, gain trust from the stakeholders and set the expectations about the deliverables and time lines. You can expect some discussion about these points.
Watch the stakeholders… if their actions reflect their words, you can believe what they say.
If their words and actions are in conflict, only believe what they do.
