You're a senior manager. How can you map your stakeholders more effectively?

1 Step 1: Identify your stakeholders

The first step is to brainstorm a list of all the people and groups who have an interest or influence in your project, initiative, or decision. You can use various sources of information, such as your project charter, organizational chart, previous reports, or interviews, to generate your list. Try to be as comprehensive and inclusive as possible, and avoid excluding anyone based on your assumptions or biases.

2 Step 2: Analyze your stakeholders

The next step is to assess your stakeholders based on two criteria: their level of interest and their level of power. Interest refers to how much they care about the outcome of your project, initiative, or decision. Power refers to how much they can affect or be affected by it. You can use a simple matrix to plot your stakeholders along these two dimensions, such as the one below:

|---------------------|---------------------|
| High Power/High Interest    | High Power/Low Interest    |
|---------------------|---------------------|
| Low Power/High Interest     | Low Power/Low Interest     |
|---------------------|---------------------|        

This matrix will help you categorize your stakeholders into four groups: key players, influencers, supporters, and bystanders. Each group requires a different approach to communication and engagement.

3 Step 3: Prioritize your stakeholders

The third step is to prioritize your stakeholders based on their importance and urgency. Importance refers to how much their support or opposition can impact your project, initiative, or decision. Urgency refers to how soon you need to address their needs or expectations. You can use another simple matrix to rank your stakeholders along these two dimensions, such as the one below:

|---------------------|---------------------|
| High Importance/High Urgency | High Importance/Low Urgency |
|---------------------|---------------------|
| Low Importance/High Urgency  | Low Importance/Low Urgency  |
|---------------------|---------------------|        

This matrix will help you determine which stakeholders to focus on first, which ones to monitor closely, which ones to keep informed, and which ones to keep satisfied.

5 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?