Who Should You Listen To?

 

This week in the Project Shrink question box:

"Dear Project Shrink. In your previous post you mentioned that I should make all my stakeholders happy. I have twenty people surrounding my project that all have an opinion about what we do. Who should I listen to?"

I deserve this question. I really said it. About stakeholders: "Make everyone a winner."

The logic behind this reasoning is simple: if people are happy, they are cooperative. If they are not happy, they might be thrashing your project. I like my reasoning simple.

But with all the conflicting interests, political intrigues and hierarchy, it is almost impossible to make every stakeholder a happy camper. Yeah. Reality. Argh.

So.

Who gets your attention? Who gets priority? Who should you listen to?

There is an old project saying: "He who pays for all the hoopla, he is to be called the Big Kahuna." Or, if you're more hip and happening: "Zponzor Rulez!"

But. If you are a car salesman in Beverly Hills, and the latest billionaire walks in with his 16 year old daughter to buy her a Mercedes, who should you listen to? Daddy is picking up the bill, but the daughter has to drive and show the car.

The answer?

Simple.

Both.

The parent will only become happy, when the child is.

Technically you can just focus on your project sponsor. But, as his decisions are based upon the perceptions of others in the company, it's too short sighted.

In projects deliverables are accepted, there is someone who has to sign a product off. There is someone for every piece that has to say "yes" before it can be regarded as finished (this can be someone with the formal authority, or with the informal recognition). Those are your project "sweet sixteens", when they are happy, your sponsor is happy.

That's at least my theory.

Who do you listen to?
 

I hope you enjoy my presentation: Stakeholder Management: We Come To See The Wizard.