I was taking over as a PM on a billing migration project with a regulatory driven deadline. The team was having an unhealthy level of conflict internally and with the previous PM which was impacting productivity, quality and team morale. One of the more influential team members was especially vocal about her disdain for PMs and the profession.
By taking an active listening approach to really understand their concerns, championing those concerns with senior management, and (when it was appropriate) rolling up my sleeves and pitching in on all types of activities, I gained the trust of this individual and the remainder of the team and we successfully achieved the primary objective.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Difficult or not difficult stakeholder does not exists. That is my rule, In fact, I teached and I am coaching (that is one of my duties) my team about that. Reality is a matter of perception. Perception is subjective. People behaves in accordance to Newton´s Laws mainly the third (action-reaction). To simplify, people take reaction in accordance to the perceived reality versus the desire reality. Then, you have to work on perception or you have to work on desire and you will put people on the side you need.This works for me from years including I am working with stakeholders that belongs to 65 different countries around the world (north, south, east, west).
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2 replies by Arnab Pandit and Joey Perugino
Jan 22, 2018 9:06 AM
Arnab Pandit
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Very true, most of the time it's a failure in communication, which get escalated easily, and that results a conflict. and when a conflict happens, it's very hard to step back and think.
and this is one of the cases which creates a difficult stakeholder.
I try to minimize barriers in communication, most of the time that's a culprit, and makes the other person so called difficult. Our OWN perception, accumulated knowledge, and expectation are critical among those barriers, which does not allow us to be careful listener. As Kiron mentioned above, active listening can save us from difficult stakeholder.
Jan 22, 2018 10:23 AM
Joey Perugino
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Failure in communication indeed.
I would be interested in knowing in your vast experience if you have found a tried and tested approach that helps mend broken communication channels and rebuild trust in a context where the PM has lost the vote of confidence from Sr Management.
Difficult or not difficult stakeholder does not exists. That is my rule, In fact, I teached and I am coaching (that is one of my duties) my team about that. Reality is a matter of perception. Perception is subjective. People behaves in accordance to Newton´s Laws mainly the third (action-reaction). To simplify, people take reaction in accordance to the perceived reality versus the desire reality. Then, you have to work on perception or you have to work on desire and you will put people on the side you need.This works for me from years including I am working with stakeholders that belongs to 65 different countries around the world (north, south, east, west).
Very true, most of the time it's a failure in communication, which get escalated easily, and that results a conflict. and when a conflict happens, it's very hard to step back and think.
and this is one of the cases which creates a difficult stakeholder.
I try to minimize barriers in communication, most of the time that's a culprit, and makes the other person so called difficult. Our OWN perception, accumulated knowledge, and expectation are critical among those barriers, which does not allow us to be careful listener. As Kiron mentioned above, active listening can save us from difficult stakeholder. Saving Changes...
Difficult or not difficult stakeholder does not exists. That is my rule, In fact, I teached and I am coaching (that is one of my duties) my team about that. Reality is a matter of perception. Perception is subjective. People behaves in accordance to Newton´s Laws mainly the third (action-reaction). To simplify, people take reaction in accordance to the perceived reality versus the desire reality. Then, you have to work on perception or you have to work on desire and you will put people on the side you need.This works for me from years including I am working with stakeholders that belongs to 65 different countries around the world (north, south, east, west).
Failure in communication indeed.
I would be interested in knowing in your vast experience if you have found a tried and tested approach that helps mend broken communication channels and rebuild trust in a context where the PM has lost the vote of confidence from Sr Management. Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
Communication is the key, so keep talking to them. Also, try to understand their needs,expectations, and influence their behavior. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I agree with my fellow coelagues here. You will always find difficult stakeholders, so use your intelligence to deal with it. Communication skills is key here. Saving Changes...
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