How much energy have you invested in supporting SharePoint? Have you been asked to help add a column, define a list, or share some advice on the best way to do something in SharePoint? If you have, you're not alone. IT departments that are implementing SharePoint are finding out that users have a lot of surprising questions. Whether it's a rise in Help desk calls, the tackling that IT folks get in the halls, or just the occasional phone call that interrupts the day, there is a definite drive to create SharePoint solutions in most places where it's been installed.

So the question you should be asking yourself is "How do I make it stop?" Or, more precisely, "How do I give users what they need and still have time to do my job?" What you need is an army -- an army of people who can spread the load so that, instead of dozens of questions, you rarely get one at all. Enter the power user. This is a mythical creature of dread for some organizations and a champion of IT in others. When enabled correctly SharePoint power users can give all of the users better support and simultaneously reduce your load building solutions and answering questions. Here's how to do it.

Step 1: Create a power users group

Recognizing people is generally a quick way to get them on your side. Everyone wants and needs to be special. Including them in a group of their peers where they're recognized as being a power user is a huge ego stroke and a quick way to start the process of getting everyone on board.

Of course, you'll probably already know who some of the power users are -- however, there are likely many more who you aren't aware of, so ask. Send a message throughout the management of the organization indicating that you're forming a new group of power users to receive special attention and support. Let them know you'd like for them to nominate the people within the organization who would most benefit from the special attention – and from whom they feel like they can get the most support after the training.

With a list of names in hand, it's just a matter of putting things together and getting a meeting together. Of course, not every organization can actually gather the members of the group into one location. However, to create a sense of community you want to do your level best to gather as many folks as possible into at least a video conference. Whether you're able to get everyone together or not, you will definitely want to create a special SharePoint site for the group.

Before moving on, don't get discouraged if you've tried something like this in the past and it didn't work. You're armed with a plan now and you'll make this work. Try to convince management, if they''re hesitant, by explaining what you're going to do, the actions you're going to take to make this time different, and of course what the benefits are.