What are the best ways to build rapport with senior stakeholders in retail?

Why should retail be any different? A Senior Stakeholder is likely of the same ilk in any industry sector. Anyway, you need to understand what makes them tick, their likes and dislikes, what their achilles heel is, and most importantly how they prefer to deal with people. This should be done through f2f engagement then once you have that necessary data you can then plan how you will take things forward with them. Remember that each senior stakeholder is different so the plans should be different for each one although you may, on occasions need to get them all together in one room and see if you can build synergy between them rather than have a fragmented relationship. As the three musketeers said "all for one and one for all"

Active listening is a communication skill that involves paying full attention and showing genuine interest to what the speaker is saying and trying to understand their message. It shows respect and interest in the speaker and makes them feel heard and valued. It helps to build trust and rapport in relationships, whether personal or professional. It improves comprehension and reduces misunderstandings and conflicts. It fosters empathy and compassion by helping you to see things from the speaker’s perspective. Some of the techniques of active listening are: Being fully present in the conversation and avoiding distractions. Paying attention to the speaker’s verbal and non-verbal cues, such as tone, facial expressions, and body language.

Delivering value to your senior stakeholders is an important skill for any professional. It involves understanding their needs and expectations, communicating effectively with them, and demonstrating the benefits of your project. Here are some tips based on the web search results I found: Define the project aims to stakeholders from the outset. Create a shared vision of success. Provide regular progress reports. This will keep your senior stakeholders informed of the project status, achievements, risks, and issues. You can use different formats and channels to suit their preferences, such as dashboards, emails, meetings, or presentations. Show how progress is resulting in value.