You’re managing senior stakeholders. What are the hard skills you need to succeed?

1 Project management

Project management is the discipline of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria. As a senior stakeholder manager, you need to apply project management principles and tools to your stakeholder engagement activities. This means you need to define the scope, objectives, deliverables, and risks of your stakeholder management plan, as well as the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of each stakeholder group. You also need to monitor and report on the progress, performance, and outcomes of your stakeholder engagement, and adjust your plan as needed to ensure alignment and satisfaction.

2 Data analysis

Data analysis is the process of collecting, organizing, interpreting, and presenting data to support decision-making, problem-solving, and innovation. As a senior stakeholder manager, you need to use data analysis skills to identify and prioritize your key stakeholders, understand their needs, preferences, and motivations, and measure their impact and influence on your project or organization. You also need to use data analysis skills to evaluate the effectiveness and value of your stakeholder engagement strategies, and to communicate your results and recommendations to your senior stakeholders in a clear and compelling way.

3 Business acumen

Business acumen is the ability to understand and apply business knowledge and logic to various situations and scenarios. As a senior stakeholder manager, you need to have a solid grasp of the business context, goals, and challenges of your project or organization, as well as the industry, market, and competitive landscape. You also need to be able to anticipate and respond to the changing needs and expectations of your senior stakeholders, and to align your stakeholder management plan with the strategic vision and direction of your project or organization.

4 Change management

Change management is the discipline of preparing, supporting, and helping individuals, teams, and organizations to adopt, implement, and sustain change. As a senior stakeholder manager, you need to be able to manage the impact of change on your senior stakeholders, and to facilitate their transition from the current state to the desired state. You also need to be able to manage the resistance, uncertainty, and emotions that may arise from change, and to foster a culture of collaboration, trust, and commitment among your senior stakeholders.

5 Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly, logically, and objectively, and to evaluate the quality, validity, and relevance of information, arguments, and assumptions. As a senior stakeholder manager, you need to use critical thinking skills to assess the opportunities and risks of your stakeholder management plan, and to make informed and rational decisions that balance the needs and interests of your senior stakeholders with the objectives and constraints of your project or organization. You also need to use critical thinking skills to identify and resolve any conflicts, issues, or gaps that may arise from your stakeholder engagement, and to seek feedback and improvement opportunities.

6 Digital literacy

Digital literacy is the ability to use and understand digital technologies and platforms to access, create, and share information, knowledge, and ideas. As a senior stakeholder manager, you need to be proficient in using various digital tools and channels to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate with your senior stakeholders, as well as to collect, analyze, and present data and insights. You also need to be aware of the benefits and challenges of digital transformation, and to leverage the potential of digital innovation to enhance your stakeholder management outcomes.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?