What's your one top tip for stakeholder management?
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
I'm giving a presentation to a group of new project managers soon and I would like to share some top tips from experienced pros about how to manage stakeholders. What advice would you give?
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
Ah, Winnie, thank you! That makes sense. Saving Changes...
Mike FrenetteManager, IT PMO| Halifax Water (retired)Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Stakeholder identification, categorization and coming up with a communication and engagement plan that forms part of the project schedule is a critical step.
During identification, consider stakeholders in various groups to be sure you identify all of them, then consider when/if/how/why you will engage with them and who will do the work.
Groups of stakeholders may include the core project team, the extended project team, stakeholders in the department within which you are working, those within the organization as a whole and those outside the organization such as unions, news media, and so on. Saving Changes...
Bruce HarphamEditor & Author| ProjectManagementHacks.comToronto, Ontario, Canada
Hi Elizabeth,
There have already been some great discussions here.
I would add the importance of learning communication styles. Specifically, I think the DISC model is very helpful in terms of learning communication style.
One practical tip is to simply find out - perhaps limit this to the most important stakeholders if you have many to manage - whether they are reader or a listener. Manager Tools has a great podcast on that topic: http://www.manager-tools.com/2010/02/your-...-or-a-listener.
Good luck!
Bruce
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Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
Thanks, everyone for your suggestions. The presentation is today and I have incorporated some of these points. It's good to have advice from other people so it isn't just my ideas. Saving Changes...
