How do you get business stakeholders aligned with IT strategy and priorities?

1 Understand the business context

Before you can communicate IT strategy and priorities, you need to understand the business context and the needs and expectations of your stakeholders. This means analyzing the external and internal factors that affect the organization, such as market trends, customer demands, competitors, regulations, risks, opportunities, and goals. You also need to identify the key stakeholders and their roles, interests, and concerns, and how they relate to IT. This will help you tailor your message and approach to each audience and situation.

2 Define and communicate IT value proposition

Once you have a clear understanding of the business context and the stakeholders, you need to define and communicate the value proposition of IT. This is the statement that explains how IT contributes to the organization's success and how it supports and enables the business strategy. It should highlight the benefits and outcomes of IT, not just the features and functions. It should also align with the organization's vision, mission, and values, and show how IT helps achieve them. You can use different formats and channels to communicate your value proposition, such as presentations, reports, newsletters, dashboards, stories, and testimonials.

5 Build trust and collaboration with business stakeholders

The final step is to build trust and collaboration with your business stakeholders. This means establishing and maintaining good relationships with them, based on mutual respect, understanding, and communication. It also means demonstrating your credibility and reliability, by delivering on your promises, meeting your deadlines, and solving problems. You should also seek to understand and address their needs and concerns, and provide them with support and guidance. You should also encourage and welcome their feedback and suggestions, and recognize and celebrate their achievements and contributions.