Four Tactics for Attaining Vital Stakeholder Contributions

Joe Wynne is a versatile Project Manager experienced in delivering medium-scope projects in large organizations that improve workforce performance and business processes. He has a proven track record of delivering effective, technology-savvy solutions in a variety of industries and a unique combination of strengths in both process management and workforce management.

  Communications Management   Stakeholder Management   Talent Management  

Need more ideas to help with the constant effort of engaging stakeholders? Results of recent studies suggest there are four tactics that can yield a large number of effective actions. Consider first results of research on how middle-level managers were successfully used as change agents. Initiatives were successful when middle-level managers were empowered in a certain way. Specifically, they were:

• Enabled to author initiatives partnering with cross-functional teams and teams that crossed organizational boundaries
• Required to contribute directly to the success of the initiative
• Clear on how the initiative aligned with their own goals (personal and professional)

Your projects are initiatives themselves (or parts of larger initiatives), so utilize the following tactic:

Tactic 1: Make sure middle-level managers are empowered early in your project.

• Include a broad group of middle-level managers when developing your business justifications and project management plans.
• Set up events for collaboration across silos and across functions as project goals and plans are developed.
• Be specific in your RACI as to how middle-level managers will be directly involved in other activities in your project, including planning and careful document reviews.
• Meet with middle-level managers to obtain a clear picture of their professional goals…

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