What are the best ways to make your stakeholder engagement model transparent and accountable?

Create a RACI Matrix and follow ITIL best practices for service delivery. Keep the communication channel flow optimum and make sure every small information is acknowledged, captured and reflected in the backlog. Complement the RACI with a SOD matrix to highlight all the stakeholders and their responsibilities. The matrix also needs to be updated from time to time as in larger engagements there is always a big chance of immediate transitions which may lead to a later delay. Keeping it updated, helps sort out the communication gap issue and keeps the overall process transparent

Even in stakeholders, everyone has a different: - Inclination to an aspect - revenue, ops, engagement, tech feasibility. - Preference for update frequency. Understanding these about your stakeholders helps in creating a structure to align them.

Consider that your stakeholders should come from a variety of groups. They should include external customers as well as internal stakeholders. Regardless of if you are at the beginning of the process or just revisiting, it pays to start from first principles and initially cast a wide net of potential stakeholders, then winnow down to something manageable.

Description of a stakeholder map is accurate and highlights its key functions. To further elaborate, here are some additional details about stakeholder maps: 1.Identification of Stakeholders: Stakeholder maps assist in identifying all individuals, groups, or entities that have an interest or stake in your product or project. 2. Categorization: Stakeholders are typically categorized based on their level of interest and influence. 3. Prioritization of Engagement: Once stakeholders are categorized, the map helps prioritize engagement strategies. 4. Risk Management: By identifying stakeholders early in the project and understanding their interests and influence, potential risks can be identified and mitigated.

Understanding the dynamics between your stakeholders is important to learn as a Product Manager. It enables you to drive alignment and cohesivity in the team One way to define the map is a 2x2 matrix where The Y-axis is the influence/relative power of the stakeholder and The X-axis is the Interest/ relative engagement of the stakeholder It is also advisable to derive this map by having 1-1s and coffee connects. It helps you understand them better.

If you've cast a wide net for your stakeholder map, and have included both internal & external groups, then realize you may have different communication tools, channels and frequencies for each of those different groups. The most obvious is an internal vs. external roadmap. Internal roadmaps capture deliverables for internal teams that are not appropriate or relevant to customers - yet are important for presenting a more holistic view of work. They can also be an important tool for managing certain internal stakeholders expectations - e.g., sharing an internal roadmap with sales leadership may help manage expectations around customer features vs. internal needs.

Tailor your message to suit each audience—technical details for developers, executive summaries for leadership. Employ appropriate channels—Slack for quick discussions, emails for detailed information, and virtual meetings for face-to-face interactions. Timing is critical—maintain regular updates without overwhelming. In crisis situations, transparency is key; acknowledge challenges and guide the team through resolution. Craft a narrative around the app's journey—share successes, challenges, and pivotal moments. Effective communication extends beyond updates; it weaves a compelling story to engage stakeholders. Strive for a balanced approach, ensuring timely, relevant, and transparent communication.

Identifying and establishing a solid stakeholder communication plan is an extremely crucial stage in stakeholder management. There can be many different channels of communication, different frequencies, different requirements and ultimately different outcomes. Therefore, one needs to finalize a concise communication plan beforehand to understand any gaps in the process.

People understand and learn in various ways. However, a visual representation of your words drives better clarity and engagement. While tailoring your words, also tailor your written artefacts. Secondly, discuss among the stakeholders how you can improve your articulation skills. One important note here - Fix a time when you meet with them. Set a habit to speak about these things.

Building a communication plan is like crafting a GPS for sharing updates about our product. It's not just about throwing messages out there—it's about making sure the right info reaches everyone at the right time. It's our guide to keeping everyone on the same page and seeing what's working and what needs a little adjustment.

LonkedIn - please STOP sending me this rubbish, it is getting very boring and very repetitive……………………………………..………………………………..??

Engaging stakeholders is like hosting a potluck dinner. When everyone contributes a dish, it makes for a richer and more enjoyable meal. Involving stakeholders in the product process is like asking them to bring their signature recipes—it makes the final product more satisfying for everyone involved.

Involving stakeholders early and along the way increases their interest and "stake" in your product development. They will be more willing to help defend the idea/positioning and the more feedback you take in along the way helps to ready the product to hold its ground when launched -- amongst an unpredictable audience of potential detractors AND supporters

If they understand your world better, it will help them communicate easily. Involving them will often help you derive innovative solutions. More minds at work is definitely better. Subsequently, since they are a part of the decision, there is a sense of ownership around it and it better helps in driving product growth

Engaging stakeholders in the product process involves orchestrating strategic collaboration. Start with structured brainstorming for diverse ideas. Sustain transparent communication through regular updates on successes and challenges, maintaining stakeholder engagement. Construct a robust feedback mechanism for open dialogues. In decision-making, adopt a collaborative approach, involving key stakeholders for smoother implementation. Upon product launch, celebrate achievements collectively. Involving stakeholders goes beyond procedure—it cultivates shared pride in success. Commence the collaborative celebration—a testament to shared achievements. ??

Continuously sharing within an agile framework is essential for conveying your product vision and roadmap. The key to success lies in consistently sharing and reviewing knowledge along the way, making it an integral part of your daily implementation.

Sharing the product vision is akin to orchestrating a symphony. Craft a narrative that goes beyond features, focusing on the team's purpose. Communicate through diverse channels—town halls, presentations, or emails—tailoring the message to different audiences. Break the roadmap into phases, emphasizing key milestones. Regular updates are crucial; adapt and explain shifts transparently. Feedback is not just welcomed; it's vital. Foster an open forum for questions and suggestions—it's a two-way street. The roadmap isn't rigid; it's a flexible guide. Weave in the challenges, victories, and future chapters, creating a connection to the journey. It's not just a roadmap; it's a shared expedition toward a common goal.

Not only share, but infact to manage the product vision in regards to the vision of the company. It is the product management that is dealing with long term aspects as projects, strategies, harvesting, plans, customer experience, innovation etc. Therefore the product team is the one responsible to view the impacts of the actions in a longer period than the regular budgeting of the company.

Beyond routine feedback, establishing a clearly articulated escalation procedure assures stakeholders of a reliable framework for intervention and risk mitigation during critical situations. This structured approach not only informs them timely but also enables effective involvement in resolving issues. Such clarity in handling challenges significantly bolsters stakeholder confidence and accountability.

Soliciting and acting on stakeholder feedback is pivotal for refining our product. I establish accessible channels—surveys, regular meetings, or dedicated sessions—fostering open dialogue. Active listening is key; understanding motivations and concerns ensures meaningful insights. After gathering feedback, I categorize it, identifying recurring themes. Prioritization aligns with overarching goals. Transparent communication follows—explaining changes and their rationale. Implementation is collaborative; the team embraces feedback-driven adjustments. It's a dynamic, iterative process. Closing the loop is essential; stakeholders see their impact, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Reporting on product performance is like crafting a compelling success story. I distill complex metrics into a narrative that resonates. Transparency is key—I share regular updates, showcasing both triumphs and challenges, contextualizing metrics to align with strategic goals. Key performance indicators (KPIs) take the spotlight. I focus on metrics directly tied to our objectives, presenting a clear picture of the product's value. When challenges arise, I present facts, lessons learned, and action plans for improvement. This report isn't static; it's a dynamic tool for conversation. I encourage questions and discussions, ensuring everyone is not just informed but actively engaged in our product's journey.

Pinpoint stakeholders with decision-making authority and those who wield significant influence. Engage with them proactively to understand their perspectives and align your strategies to secure their buy-in. To solidify support, agreements, or commitments from key stakeholders, it's beneficial to obtain them in writing. This ensures clarity, sets expectations, and provides a reference point for future discussions. Foster open lines of communication by establishing channels that facilitate dialogue among stakeholders. Transparency promotes trust and clarity, reducing misunderstandings and fostering collaboration. Maintain a dynamic stakeholder map, periodically reviewing and updating it.

Stakeholder engagements have a start point based on expectations leading to outcomes. Mapping or setting it out clearly & immersing the stakeholders in it is a great start, finishing with soliciting feedback, reporting & measuring impact. Sounds simple but it will be measurable & inspite of being transparent impactful only when these touch points in a give and take is established: ? Trust, based on a meaningful relationship. ? Proven reliability to ensure stakeholders are secure, the only way is open repetitive actions fostering a belief in outcomes. If there are snags in achieving outcomes after trust is built & stakeholders know one is reliable, they will engage fruitfully to drive it towards achieving those accountable outcomes.