BECOMING EXPERT AT ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS

3 simple keys for understanding,

involvement and credibility

3 things I do with my clients to help them connect with stakeholders in a

meaningful way

1. Understand their perspectives 2. Demonstrate the benefits for them 3. Create opportunities to get involved

When we get our stakeholders involved in change

We are taking them on a journey

from where they are

to where we want them to be

We want them to

 Think differently

 Feel differently

 Behave differently

UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVES

•  Putting ourselves in their shoes

•  Tuning into their mindset

•  Building rapport – becoming a trusted advisor

Ask yourself these questions

•  Why should they pay attention to what you have to say?

•  What are you offering them?

•  What are the benefits personally for them and their teams?

Spend time understanding who your sponsor is

•  What do they think and feel?

•  What are their passions and idiosyncrasies?

•  What is their performance pay based on?

Uncover what leaders are interested in

•  Executives are looking for bottom line benefits to the business

•  They probably have firm ideas about how this should happen

•  When they can see the link between their priorities and your project they will be supportive

DEMONSTRATE THE BENEFITS FOR THEM AND THEIR TEAM •  Clarify link

between your project and their KPIs

•  Justify time and expense of change to stakeholders

Add value in at least one of the six core business areas

•  Increased revenues and/or profits

•  Reduced costs

•  Improved market position

•  Enhanced reputation

•  More effective people

•  More effective assets

Differentiated delivery •  Explain the

uniqueness you and your team bring

•  Ensure executives are satisfied with what you are delivering

Link your project to business performance

•  Focus on delivering strategic objectives as well as project objectives

Creating opportunities for end users to get involved

•  Listening to level of involvement they want

•  Opportunities to participate in decision making and activities

•  End user representatives

Less effort required •  Active champions at

grass roots of organisation

•  Guerrilla persuasion with influence at personal relationships level

Fewer problems at rollout

•  Chance to test assumptions, processes, systems and reactions

•  Spot and iron out issues in advance

•  End users help to develop and trial solutions

Change is sticky

•  Users have changed their mindsets, attitudes and behaviours

•  Users do not go back to their old ways of working

•  Deeper understanding of stakeholders •  Demonstrating the benefits for them •  Getting them involved

Only 3 things need to concentrate on

Put these three together and you can double engagement

I’ve seen this again and again with my clients

Where to start … Engagement Experts support

network For you if serious about winning support of

senior executives…

…and motivating employees to get engaged in change

Click to learn more

www.commsabilities.com/engagement-experts/

About Jo Ann Sweeney •  Marketing

communication consultant, small business founder

•  Known for clarifying complex and technical detail

•  Extensive experience communicating projects and programmes

•  www.sweeneycomms.com