
Win Others to Support your Ideas Active Stakeholder Management
Our Objective for Today! • Identify and prioritize stakeholders • Understand what motivates key stakeholders • Plan the implementation of active communication with stakeholders Our Work Plan! • Who are stakeholders? • What is the challenge? • What are the benefits? • Which three steps to take? • How to plan communication?
Introductions Please introduce yourself by saying: • your name, • your JCI Chapter and NOM, • your experience in managing projects, and • one thing you expect to learn from this course.
Definitions • Every project is embedded in an environment : • in which it is formulated, evaluated and implemented • through which it is being directly or indirectly influenced • Stakeholders are all persons who are • directly involved in the project • interested in the process • affected by the outcome of the project (whether success or failure)
The Challenge • Projects affect people! • The more people you affect, the more likely that your actions impact people with power and influence; • These people can be strong supporters or blockers. • Your challenge is to use the supportersand to win blockers over.
Benefits • You can use their input • Gain support from powerful stakeholders • Promote the benefits of your project • Anticipate people's reactions
Task 1: Identify your SH In your teams discuss and answer the following questions: • Who are the stakeholders you identified in the case study? • What is their respective role in the project? • How are the involved or affected? Write down your answers in the case mind map Time 10-15 minutes
Uncover Hidden Stakeholders • Who will use it? • Who will make it? • Who will implement it? • Who will maintain it? • Who stands to lose? • Who never speaks up?
Task 2: Prioritize your SH In your teams discuss where you want to place your stakeholders on the Power/Interest Grid. Report your answers in the case mind map Time 10-15 minutes
Understand your Stakeholders • What financial or emotional interest do they have in the outcome of your work? Is it positive or negative? • What motivates him/her most of all? • What information do they want from you? • How do they want to receive information from you? What is the best way of communicating your message to them? • What is their current opinion of your work? Is it based on good information? • Who influences their opinions generally, and who influences their opinion of you? Do some of these influencers therefore become important stakeholders in their own right? • If they are not likely to be positive, what will win them around to support your project? • If you don't think you will be able to win them around, how will you manage their opposition? • Who else might be influenced by their opinions? Do these people become stakeholders in their own right?
Task 3: Understand your SH In your teams discuss and answer the following questions: • Current attitude? • Expectations or fears of stakeholders from the project? • Expectations or fears of the project from stakeholders? Write down your answers in the case mind map Time 10-15 minutes
Aspects of Active Communication • Continuously update your Power/Interest Grid • Plan your approach to Stakeholder Management • Think through what you want from each Stakeholder • Identify the Messages you need to Convey • Identify Actions and Communications
Task 4: Plan Communication Discuss the following questions: • Communication strategy with each SH? • Messages & information required? • Actions? Write down your answers in the case mind map
Five Elements of Effective Communication • Start communicating early on (foresightedly) • Communicate regularly (continuous information flow) • Be honest in your communication (providing solution in case of difficulties) • Communicate proactively (before being asked to inform) and • Interactively (in both directions)