How can you identify areas of differentiation for your senior stakeholders?

2 Define your value proposition

The second step to differentiate yourself for your senior stakeholders is to define your value proposition. Your value proposition is the statement that summarizes how you solve their problems, meet their needs, and deliver benefits that are relevant, unique, and compelling. Your value proposition should answer the questions: Why should they choose you over others? What makes you different and better? How do you create value for them? To define your value proposition, you need to articulate your core competencies, capabilities, and strengths that align with your senior stakeholders' priorities, interests, and values. You also need to highlight your unique selling points, competitive advantages, and differentiators that set you apart from the alternatives. You can use frameworks such as the value proposition canvas, the unique value proposition formula, or the value wedge model to craft your value proposition.

3 Communicate your differentiation

The third step to differentiate yourself for your senior stakeholders is to communicate your differentiation. Communication is the key to building trust, rapport, and credibility with your senior stakeholders. You need to communicate your differentiation in a clear, concise, and consistent way that resonates with them and motivates them to take action. You also need to communicate your differentiation in a tailored, personalized, and contextualized way that addresses their specific concerns, objections, and expectations. To communicate your differentiation, you need to use various channels, formats, and methods that suit your senior stakeholders' preferences, styles, and availability. You can use tools such as elevator pitches, value statements, stories, testimonials, or case studies to convey your differentiation. You also need to use metrics, evidence, or proof points to back up your differentiation and demonstrate your value.

4 Validate your differentiation

The fourth step to differentiate yourself for your senior stakeholders is to validate your differentiation. Validation is the process of testing, measuring, and improving your differentiation based on feedback, results, and performance. Validation helps you ensure that your differentiation is not only credible, but also effective, sustainable, and adaptable. To validate your differentiation, you need to collect and analyze data, metrics, and indicators that show how you are delivering on your value proposition, meeting your senior stakeholders' needs, and exceeding their expectations. You also need to solicit and incorporate feedback, suggestions, and recommendations from your senior stakeholders to refine and optimize your differentiation. You can use tools such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or reviews to gather feedback. You can also use tools such as dashboards, reports, or scorecards to track and report your results.

5 Innovate your differentiation

The fifth step to differentiate yourself for your senior stakeholders is to innovate your differentiation. Innovation is the process of creating and implementing new or improved ways of creating and delivering value. Innovation helps you maintain and enhance your differentiation in a dynamic, competitive, and changing environment. To innovate your differentiation, you need to identify and seize opportunities, challenges, and trends that affect your senior stakeholders and your value proposition. You also need to experiment and learn from your failures, successes, and best practices. You can use tools such as brainstorming, ideation, prototyping, or piloting to generate and test new ideas. You can also use tools such as benchmarking, SWOT analysis, or gap analysis to evaluate and improve your current differentiation.

6 Collaborate on your differentiation

The sixth step to differentiate yourself for your senior stakeholders is to collaborate on your differentiation. Collaboration is the process of working with your senior stakeholders and other partners to co-create and co-deliver value. Collaboration helps you build and sustain strong relationships, mutual trust, and shared goals with your senior stakeholders. It also helps you leverage their insights, expertise, and resources to enhance your differentiation. To collaborate on your differentiation, you need to engage and involve your senior stakeholders in your value creation and delivery processes. You also need to align and coordinate your actions, expectations, and outcomes with them. You can use tools such as stakeholder engagement plans, communication plans, or action plans to plan and manage your collaboration. You can also use tools such as meetings, workshops, or forums to facilitate and foster your collaboration.