When to Cancel Your Stakeholder Meeting

 

Sometimes it seems like it takes forever to manage to get a meeting scheduled with a stakeholder. Anyone would think they are not interested!

But, being fair, it is probably just because they are so very busy. So many competing demands and pressures on their mind, and in their diaries.

Which makes it all the more important that you use their time wisely. Make sure you are clear about what you want. Make sure you’ve got all the facts lined up, the slides ready.

And herein lies a trap for the unwary. 

Most people, when it comes to influence, tend to influence from their own position. They are naturally focused on what they have got to deliver, their objectives and their problems. So they look at the stakeholder and think (quite rightly), “What do I need them to do?”

Then the mistake, “How can I get them to do that?”

A reasonable enough question, but it has missed one that can make all the difference, “How is this going to affect their agenda?”

Unless you can answer this, frankly, you may as well cancel the meeting, or postpone it. Why? Because your interests are best served by being able to position your requests in their world, from their perspective, taking account of their concerns. If you don’t they’ll likely postpone their decision until they have thought it through from their position.

More on this Topic

Review the OnDemand webinar Strategic Influencing for Project Managers.

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