What are the best ways to update stakeholders on LTE project management and planning progress?

1 Identify your stakeholders

The first step to effective communication is to identify who your stakeholders are and what their interests, expectations, and needs are. Stakeholders can include internal and external parties, such as project sponsors, team members, vendors, customers, regulators, and the public. You should map out your stakeholders according to their level of influence, interest, and involvement in your project, and prioritize them accordingly. This will help you tailor your communication strategy and methods to each stakeholder group.

2 Define your communication objectives

The next step is to define what you want to achieve with your communication and what information you need to share with your stakeholders. Your communication objectives should be aligned with your project goals and scope, and should reflect the current status and progress of your project. Examples of communication objectives for LTE project management and planning include informing stakeholders about the project vision, scope, deliverables, timeline, budget, and risks; engaging stakeholders in the project activities, decision-making, and feedback; persuading stakeholders to support, approve, or fund the project; resolving issues, conflicts, or changes that affect the project; and celebrating milestones, achievements, or successes of the project.

3 Choose your communication methods

The third step of LTE project management and planning is to select the most suitable and effective communication methods for your stakeholders and objectives. These methods can be formal or informal, verbal or written, and synchronous or asynchronous. Examples include project charters, plans, and schedules for establishing the project scope, objectives, deliverables, timeline, budget, and risks. Status reports, dashboards, and metrics can be used to track and report the project performance, progress, and issues. Meetings, presentations, webinars, emails, newsletters, social media posts are all great ways to inform stakeholders about the project benefits or challenges. Lastly, surveys, polls, and interviews can help collect stakeholder input or satisfaction.

4 Communicate clearly and consistently

The fourth step is to communicate clearly and consistently with your stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. You should use simple, concise, and accurate language that avoids jargon, acronyms, and technical terms that your stakeholders may not understand. You should also use visual aids, such as charts, graphs, and diagrams, to illustrate your data and messages. You should communicate frequently and regularly with your stakeholders, according to a predefined communication plan and schedule. You should also communicate proactively and promptly with your stakeholders, especially when there are changes, issues, or risks that affect the project.