Not all stakeholders are equal
Are you feeling the pressure?
Are you exhausted by the end of each day because:
You’ve done nothing but influence and negotiate with a bunch of stakeholders whose views, demands, and agendas feel like they are worlds apart; and there are 50 more people you need to speak to and convince tomorrow?
You’re having a hard time getting decisions made and this is not only impacting progress, but you’re churning through more money every day a decision isn’t made?
Your real work has piled up because you haven’t had a spare moment to attend to it through the day; and you need to get to it because other people are waiting on your decisions and instructions to proceed with their work?
Does it feel like everything, and everyone, is out of control?
You’re working long days, nights, and weekends to keep things progressing
You’re feeling underappreciated and alone, since you’re the only one doing the work to hold everything, and everyone, together
Your health is suffering because you’re exercising less, eating foods of convenience, not taking breaks, not sleeping, and always sick
Your family and friends are getting worried about you because you’re not spending as much time with them because you’re so time poor and low on energy
Not all stakeholders are equal…
What if I told you there was a better way to go about this?
That you didn’t need to speak to, influence, convince, and negotiate with every single person you thought you did?
That you could get decisions made faster with more confidence and better quality?
That you could be more effective and work less hours than you currently do?
That you could actually cook a healthy dinner or go out with your family and friends for a meal without looking at the clock and thinking about all the work that you had waiting for you?
Think about the people and the politics in a slightly different way using this guide
Figure 1: Not all stakeholders are equal… a guide to your next steps!
They hold the decision rights, and they are not interested
This is where you need to maximise your efforts. You need to influence these people to make quality decisions. Share information and get them involved through a conscious change management cycle
They hold the decision rights, and they are interested
This is where you need to maintain your efforts. You need to collaborate with these people to make quality decisions. Share information and get them involved in co-creation, regular decision making, and recruit them to help influence those who hold decision rights, and are not currently interested
They don’t hold the decision rights, and they are interested
This is where you need to either maintain your efforts or take the opportunity to minimise your efforts depending on what you are currently doing with this group of people. You need to collaborate with these people and keep them informed if they have valuable contributions or a vested interest in the outcome; but reduce your effort here if they are just interested. If they have good relationships with those who hold the decision rights, and are not currently interested, recruit them to help influence so that it ultimately helps to minimise your efforts with the other group
They don’t hold the decision rights, and they are not interested
This is where you need to minimise your efforts. Walk away - run if you must.
Want help sorting out who’s who in the zoo, and influence decision makers more effectively?
Let’s work together on this. Here are three ways:
Influencing for Impact: This practical 2-day workshop is for you if you want to influence a decision maker, influence a change in customer or colleague behaviour, or influence someone to buy something from you
Executive and Leadership Team Coaching: Work directly with Lai-Ling to problem solve for your specific situation in a confidential setting. This is for you if you want to develop and execute on a game plan that is 100% tailored to you
Leadership Development: Invest in the product and transformation leaders in your company with leadership development that is customised for their role. This is for you if you want to learn about people and politics