What lessons can you learn from senior stakeholder management?

The first step in any stakeholder analysis is to identify all individuals and groups who have an interest in or could impact your project. - Map the senior stakeholders using tools like Power- Interest matrix as power and interest drives prioritization or influence- impact matrix which will provide an idea on the importance of certain stakeholders in decision making. - Evaluate stakeholders’ influence over your project and the impact your project has on them. - Prioritize your senior stakeholders and engage with them with credible information of their interest. These strategies will help you to seek support from them ensuring successful execution of the projects.

Identifying senior stakeholders is crucial for any project's success. As a project manager, I always ask key questions to identify who they are. When contractors ask about my bosses and the board, I know they understand stakeholder importance. Understanding their concerns and influence is vital. I use tools like the power-interest matrix to categorize stakeholders by influence and interest. I also keep a personal cheat sheet with detailed information on each stakeholder. This helps tailor my communication. Prioritizing stakeholders and addressing their needs ensures they remember and support me, leading to successful project outcomes.

Building trust and credibility is key to any successful project. For me, the key to trust has been listening. Senior stakeholders value people who listen more than those who act unilaterally. When meeting with senior stakeholders, I always bring a notepad to show them that what they have to say is as important as a professor teaching a course. This demonstrates that I value their input and consider them the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). By actively listening, taking notes, and valuing their insights, I have successfully gained their trust, ensuring they feel heard and respected. This approach leads to strong relationships and project success.

Senior stakeholders are key decision-makers and funders, making clear communication crucial. First, determine if they are "pull" or "push" communicators. Do they prefer accessing reports from a repository like Dropbox ("pull") or receiving updates via emails or texts ("push")? Often, their assistants can provide insights into their communication preferences. Use the right channels, formats, and frequencies, focusing on project benefits, risks, and issues. Regular updates, reports, and presentations are essential. Understanding and adapting to their preferences keeps them informed, engaged, and supportive, ensuring project success.

Managing stakeholder expectations is key to success and promotes healthy trade-offs. Always remember, we are all on the same team. Ask stakeholders for what you need to succeed because their success is tied to yours and the organization’s. Ask important questions and seek out the right people for essential information. Get close to those around senior stakeholders, like their assistants, as they can provide valuable insights. Setting realistic goals, communicating transparently, and being adaptable ensures you can negotiate effectively and maintain project integrity.The senior stakeholder wants you to be successful, so leverage that all times. Your succes is their succes!

Leveraging senior stakeholders' support is key to securing funding, resources, expertise, endorsements, and recognition. Listen actively to what they say and demonstrate understanding by repeating their points. Be prepared to ask for what you need when they inquire about support. Anticipate their next moves by doing your homework to understand their needs and expectations. Present charts or data showing progress or solutions. Always have proposed solutions to problems. If you bring bad news, also provide a solution, showing you can turn challenges into opportunities. You do not want to be the manager who always brings problems with no solutions. Incorporaring these suggestions will give help with support and influence for project success.