Skill Sharpener Item #18

I pre-sell capable but reluctant project participants on my projects to gain their commitment and I regularly re-sell them until their project responsibilities are completed.

Outstanding! Here are some of the benefits you've probably received because you use selling techniques to impact (as in elevate) the priority a participant holds for your project over the other work that they might choose:

Knowing that capable participants are more likely to be overloaded and kidnapped from your project, you increase the chances that they'll commit to and stick to your project by pre-selling (as in "emphasizing the benefits of the project to them and strengthening our relationship").

By attempting to pre-sell your project to 'can but might not' participants, you're much more likely to identify those who, despite your efforts, will quickly bail out when a competing priority arrives and to back-fill them with an understudy who can quickly and competently take over.

By re-selling, you keep a commitment in place until the work is done because you recognize that, under the right (or is it wrong?) circumstances, anyone will dishonor a commitment if pressured by the right opportunity or individual.