How to Build PMO Traction Through Trust, Credibility, and Strategic Influence

You’ve probably heard it in your own head: 
 
“Once we get the process right, everything else will follow.” 
“If we just roll out the framework, people will get on board.” 
“Once we show them the plan, they’ll get on board.” 
 
But here’s the truth: process isn’t what earns buy-in. People do. 
 
In this episode of the PMO Strategies Podcast, I’m joined by Brandy Brown, one of our incredible IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind students, an enterprise PMO leader and organizational strategist with a background in industrial/organizational psychology. Brandy brings a human-centered approach to strategy and change, with a strong track record of driving sustainable results across complex organizations—and in this conversation, she shares what really drives PMO traction inside political environments (hint: it’s not about the templates). 
 
It’s about trust, sponsorship, psychology, and credibility built from the ground up. 
 

Spotting Stakeholder Friction Before It Derails You  

Before resistance shows up in the form of full-blown pushback, there are quieter signals that your PMO might be heading toward trouble. Brandy shared several early patterns that surfaced long before anyone said “no” out loud: 
 
Silent meetings: When stakeholders stop asking questions or giving input, it’s often a sign they’ve mentally checked out or never bought in to begin with. 
 
Polite yes, quiet no: Getting verbal agreement with no follow-through? That’s resistance in disguise—and it means you haven’t earned their trust yet. 
 
Side-door solutions: If teams are building their own tools or workflows outside the PMO, it’s not just a process issue. It’s a credibility issue. 
 
Spotting these subtle signals early gives you a chance to rebuild trust, re-engage your allies, and course correct—before the real resistance kicks in. 
 
 

Build Trust Before You Introduce Structure 

If you lead with templates and governance, you’ll keep running into resistance. The pushback doesn’t come from the process. It comes from people who don’t trust it yet. 
 
Start by solving something real: identify the friction, fix a pain point that matters, and show up with support instead of a rollout so the value has a chance to land before the structure follows. 
 
Then invite others in. Instead of arriving with answers, ask what’s not working, test assumptions, and create space for co-creation rather than compliance—making it theirs before it ever feels like yours. 
 
Once trust is built, structure isn’t scary anymore. It feels like the natural next step because it’s solving something they’ve already felt, and they’ve seen that you actually listen. 
 
 

When Politics Got Loud, Her Credibility Spoke Louder 

When Brandy first stepped into her role, the landscape was already charged. There were competing priorities, historical baggage, and more than a few people who didn’t think a PMO belonged in the room. 
 
Still, she moved with clarity. She listened first, solved small pains, and proved value before she ever introduced structure. That traction didn’t come from a title—it came from trust she earned one conversation at a time. 
 
The traction didn’t come from process. It came from presence. And that’s what every PMO leader needs when the politics are loud and the stakes are high. 
 
 

We’ve Got to Stop Leading Like It’s Just About Process 

This isn’t about launching another framework or enforcing compliance. It’s about leading with empathy—so you can earn trust, unlock sponsorship, and build a system that actually sticks. 
 
Because the truth is, process only works when people believe in it. But when you lead with credibility and co-creation, resistance fades and results accelerate. 
 
And that’s the kind of leadership I want for every IMPACT driver navigating complex, political environments. 
 
👉 Click play to learn how to lead through trust, not just templates 
 
Connect with Brandy 
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P.S. If you’re ready to master leadership mindset like Brandy, join her and other industry leaders inside the IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind! With expert coaching, deep-dive workshops, and hands-on support, you’ll get the structure and guidance to lead with clarity, deliver with purpose, and create real, lasting IMPACT. 🚀