Hier erfahren Sie, wie Sie in Zukunft als leitender Stakeholder relevant bleiben können, indem Sie wichtige Fähigkeiten entwickeln.

I was once on the board of a non-profit during the early days of the Internet. At a board meeting, the executive director asked if we should form a sub-committee for developing a website, and I said, "Yes, we should so we can remain relevant." Although I was a much younger executive then, it turned out to be one of the most pivotal business decisions for the organization. Sometimes change is good. If they had resisted and not wanted to "go with the crowd," they might have fallen behind. Here is a rule of thumb: "If going with the crowd means go with the crowd or be left behind, then go with the crowd!" Embracing change is essential for senior stakeholders looking to stay relevant.

Stay agile and open to change by continuously adapting to new trends and technologies. Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and innovation. By staying ahead of the curve, you ensure your strategies and operations remain relevant and effective.

Embracing change cannot be emphasized enough! If we have an open and growth mindset, change brings opportunities we may have never imagined. It's also useful to understand what's driving the change, so we are more likely to get onboard the change "vehicle" so to speak.

En mi propia experiencia como parte interesada, he aprendido que aceptar el cambio es no solo una necesidad, sino también una oportunidad para el crecimiento y el éxito. Hace algunos años, resistí a la implementación de un nuevo sistema de software en mi departamento. Me sentía cómodo con los métodos tradicionales y temía que el cambio interrumpiera mi flujo de trabajo y creara más problemas que soluciones. Sin embargo, una vez que tomé el tiempo para aprender el nuevo sistema y explorar sus funcionalidades, entendí que ofrecía ventajas sobre el antiguo sistema. Era más eficiente, automatizaba muchas tareas y me brindo acceso a información que antes no tenía. El cambio, aunque inicialmente pueda incomodar, conduce a mejoras significativas.

The difference between a vision and a strategic vision is day and night. Invest time in your vision, write it down, and make it clear. Do some market research. Hire freelancers from places like Fiverr to assess your vision's viability and turn it into a functional business process. If you’re not doing market research and crunching numbers, it is not a strategic vision—it might just be a nice thought. "Nice thoughts alone are just nice thoughts, but are not strategic business visions!" Developing a strategic vision is a powerful tool for senior stakeholders. It involves seeing beyond the The difference between a vision and a strategic vision is like day and night, they are not the same! Do some market research to see how viable is your idea.

Develop and refine your strategic vision to navigate future challenges and opportunities. Anticipate market shifts and prepare proactive strategies. A clear, forward-thinking vision positions you as a leader capable of guiding your organization through uncertainty.

la visión estratégica es una herramienta esencial para las partes interesadas de alto nivel que buscan guiar a sus organizaciones hacia un éxito sostenible en el futuro. Al desarrollar y adoptar una visión clara, las organizaciones pueden navegar por la incertidumbre, tomar decisiones informadas, inspirar a sus empleados y obtener una ventaja competitiva duradera. En esencia, la visión estratégica conecta los puntos entre las acciones del presente y los resultados futuros, asegurando que cada paso sea un avance hacia una relevancia duradera.

According to PMI.org, 90% of a Project Manager's time is spent communicating. All business people are essentially managing projects, and if we all spend 90% of our business relationships in communication, we should strive to be the best at it. This is where emotional intelligence comes in. We should all be great listeners and soft-spoken. In conversations, I repeat what a person said to let them know I am listening and to hear myself say it again, ensuring I understand correctly. "So what I hear you saying is ..."Effective communication is not just about speaking well but also about listening actively and empathizing with different perspectives. By honing this skill, you'll be able to navigate complex negotiations.

Enhance your communication skills to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively. Effective communication fosters collaboration, aligns teams, and influences stakeholders. Mastering this skill ensures your messages resonate and drive action.

Communicating well begins with listening carefully. "Listen to understand, not to respond". By listening carefully, we can address our communications to the things that matter most to senior stakeholders. Maybe it's timelines, perhaps it's making sure that the output is aligned to the strategic vision, or perhaps it's just being reassured that things are on track. Also, different stakeholders operate differently based on their leadership styles. Some like a big picture view, others like to get into the weeds. Be ready to tailor your approach accordingly, so it feels most relevant to them.

Here’s a secret to my success: I sit with young staffers and ask tech questions. Yes. leave the office, sit in the café, and ask simple questions like, "Where can I hire a freelancer?" They might say Fiverr. "What's the best app for managing budgets?" They might suggest Reddit. Tech is best learned through word of mouth. This approach keeps you updated and builds stronger relationships, ensuring competitiveness. Becoming tech-savvy is essential for senior stakeholders. Technology drives innovation and efficiency in today's business world. Understanding digital tools allows you to streamline processes, make data-driven decisions, and stay ahead. You don't need to be an expert in every new gadget.

Stay informed about the latest technological advancements relevant to your industry. Develop a strong understanding of how technology can optimize operations, enhance products, and create competitive advantages. Being tech-savvy keeps you and your organization at the forefront of innovation.

En mi opinión, los conocimientos tecnológicos se han convertido en una competencia esencial para las partes interesadas sénior que buscan liderar sus organizaciones hacia el éxito en la era digital. Al invertir en el desarrollo de estas habilidades, las partes interesadas sénior pueden posicionarse como agentes de cambio, impulsar la innovación y garantizar la competitividad a largo plazo de sus organizaciones. ¡Optimiza procesos, toma decisiones basadas en datos, y mantente a la vanguardia!

Expand and strengthen your professional network to access diverse perspectives and opportunities. Engage with industry leaders, attend relevant events, and join professional groups. A robust network provides valuable insights and fosters strategic partnerships.

Commit to lifelong learning to stay informed and skilled in a rapidly evolving landscape. Pursue advanced courses, certifications, and industry conferences. Continuous learning ensures you remain knowledgeable and adaptable to new challenges and opportunities.

Being curious about areas you don't (yet) understand or know well can be a simple step towards lifelong learning. "Know enough to be dangerous" :) Be ready to not just learn throughout your career, but be equally ready to "unlearn" - e.g., beliefs/opinions which aren't serving you and your teams well.

A key element missing from this article is the developing and understanding of how future generations are driving a revolution of working culture. As we've seen from recent return to presenteeism drives by large employers, too many senior stakeholders continue to utilise 20th century management thinking and practices to try and solve 21st century business challenges and the results are unsurprisingly awful. If we are upskilling for the future, embracing change and rethinking strategy we also need to bring culture and mindset on the journey!

As you become a senior stakeholder yourself, keep asking yourself if you are learning and demonstrating leadership behaviours vs. "managing" behaviours. In my experience, this can be the single biggest driver of better team performance. Aim to influence rather than control, inspire rather than direct. It's amazing how motivated people can exceed the performance of their more "talented", but less inspired counterparts.

Stay proactive and curious, always seeking new knowledge and experiences. Balance your expertise with a willingness to learn from others, including emerging talent. By fostering a culture of innovation and growth within yourself and your organization, you ensure long-term relevance and success.