Agony Angels: So many Stakeholders - Stakeholder Engagement discussion with Dawn Mahan | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Learn how to manage a large number of stakeholders in a project by segmenting them into cheerleaders, finicky fans, and saboteurs and developing a communication plan and using CRM tools.

Key Insights

• 🆘 Segmenting stakeholders into different categories helps in understanding their preferences and managing their involvement effectively.
• 🌱 Developing a communication plan ensures consistent and effective communication with stakeholders, building relationships and managing expectations.
• 👣 CRM tools can be utilized to track and manage stakeholder interactions, segment stakeholders, and create avatars for better engagement.
• 📽️ Unknown or undecided stakeholders can be managed by treating them as potential saboteurs and seeking opportunities to bring them into the project.
• 🫡 Respecting stakeholders, even if they resist or sabotage the project, can lead to better understanding and potentially convert them into supporters.
• 😓 Casting a wide net and identifying a comprehensive list of stakeholders is crucial for managing relationships and expectations.
• 🎚️ Recognizing that stakeholders may have different levels of interest during the project execution and outcome phases helps in prioritizing and managing their involvement.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How can stakeholders be categorized and managed effectively?

Stakeholders can be categorized as cheerleaders, finicky fans, or saboteurs. By using a stakeholder analysis and management matrix like SAM, project managers can identify stakeholders' preferences and manage their involvement accordingly.

Q: What is the role of a communication plan in stakeholder management?

Communication is key to stakeholder management. A communication plan outlines the frequency, channels, and content of communication with stakeholders. It ensures consistent and effective communication, helping to build relationships and manage expectations.

Q: How can CRM tools be utilized in stakeholder management?

CRM tools, typically used for customer relationship management, can also be effective in managing stakeholder relationships. These tools allow project managers to track interactions, segment stakeholders, and create avatars or personas to guide communication and engagement strategies.

Q: How should stakeholders who are unknown or undecided be approached?

Unknown or undecided stakeholders can be approached by treating them as potential saboteurs and managing them accordingly. Project managers can focus on bringing them into the project, giving them a say on certain aspects to dispel their need for control and potentially turn them into cheerleaders.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video features a discussion between Mike and Dawn, an innovative project management trainer, about effective stakeholder management in projects.

• Dawn shares her tips on segmenting stakeholders into cheerleaders, finicky fans, and saboteurs and using a stakeholder analysis and management matrix called SAM.

• They discuss the importance of having a communication plan and utilizing CRM tools to track and manage stakeholder interactions.