You’re struggling to manage senior stakeholders. How can technology help you?

1 Identify and map your stakeholders

One of the first steps in stakeholder management is to identify who are the key people that have an interest or influence on your project or initiative. You can use various online tools, such as stakeholder analysis templates, surveys, or mind maps, to collect and organize information about your stakeholders, such as their roles, goals, needs, preferences, and level of power and interest. This will help you create a stakeholder map that can help you visualize and prioritize your stakeholders, and tailor your communication and engagement plans accordingly.

2 Communicate effectively and efficiently

Communication is the key to building trust and rapport with your senior stakeholders. You need to communicate clearly, consistently, and transparently, and use the right channels and formats for each stakeholder. You can use technology to support your communication efforts, such as email, video conferencing, instant messaging, or collaboration platforms, to share updates, feedback, reports, or documents. You can also use tools like presentation software, infographics, dashboards, or charts, to make your communication more engaging and informative, and highlight the value and impact of your work.

3 Manage expectations and feedback

Another important aspect of stakeholder management is to manage the expectations and feedback of your senior stakeholders. You need to align your objectives and scope with their vision and requirements, and set realistic and measurable goals and milestones. You can use technology to help you track and report on your progress, risks, and issues, and use tools like project management software, online calendars, or task management apps, to plan and coordinate your activities and deliverables. You can also use technology to solicit and respond to feedback from your stakeholders, and use tools like online surveys, polls, or forms, to gather their opinions, suggestions, or concerns.

4 Build relationships and influence

The ultimate goal of stakeholder management is to build positive and productive relationships with your senior stakeholders, and influence them to support your project or initiative. You need to understand their motivations, interests, and challenges, and demonstrate your value and credibility. You can use technology to help you build relationships and influence, such as social media, blogs, podcasts, or webinars, to showcase your expertise, insights, or achievements. You can also use tools like online networking platforms, forums, or communities, to connect and interact with your stakeholders, and share your ideas, perspectives, or stories.

5 Learn and improve

The final step in stakeholder management is to learn from your experience and improve your skills and practices. You need to evaluate your stakeholder management strategy and outcomes, and identify what worked well and what needs improvement. You can use technology to help you learn and improve, such as online courses, webinars, podcasts, or blogs, to access relevant and updated knowledge and best practices on stakeholder management. You can also use tools like online feedback platforms, analytics, or dashboards, to measure and analyze your stakeholder satisfaction, engagement, and impact.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?