How do you manage conflicts and expectations among different stakeholder groups?

1 Identify your stakeholders

The first step is to identify who your stakeholders are and what their roles, responsibilities, and expectations are in relation to your CRE project. You can use a stakeholder mapping tool, such as a matrix or a grid, to categorize your stakeholders based on their level of influence and interest in your project. This will help you prioritize your communication and engagement efforts and tailor your messages and methods to different stakeholder groups.

2 Communicate effectively

The second step is to communicate effectively with your stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. You should establish clear and consistent channels and frequency of communication, such as regular meetings, reports, newsletters, surveys, or feedback sessions. You should also use appropriate language and tone, avoid jargon and technical terms, and highlight the benefits and value of your project for each stakeholder group. Communication is not only about informing, but also about listening and understanding. You should encourage feedback and input from your stakeholders and acknowledge their opinions and suggestions.

3 Manage conflicts

The third step is to manage conflicts that may arise among or between different stakeholder groups. Conflicts can be caused by various factors, such as competing interests, conflicting expectations, miscommunication, or lack of trust. You should try to prevent or minimize conflicts by building rapport and trust with your stakeholders, clarifying roles and expectations, and addressing issues and concerns promptly and transparently. You should also try to resolve conflicts by using collaborative and constructive approaches, such as negotiation, mediation, or compromise. You should avoid escalating or ignoring conflicts, as they can damage your relationships and reputation with your stakeholders.

4 Align expectations

The fourth step is to align expectations among different stakeholder groups. Expectations are the beliefs or assumptions that stakeholders have about your project, such as its scope, timeline, budget, quality, or outcomes. You should try to align expectations by setting realistic and achievable goals and objectives, defining the scope and deliverables of your project, and communicating the risks and challenges that may affect your project. You should also try to manage expectations by monitoring and reporting your progress and performance, managing changes and deviations from the plan, and celebrating successes and milestones.

5 Engage and involve

The fifth step is to engage and involve your stakeholders in your project. Engagement and involvement are the ways that you interact with your stakeholders and enable them to participate and contribute to your project. You should try to engage and involve your stakeholders by identifying their needs and interests, providing them with relevant and timely information, seeking their feedback and input, involving them in decision-making processes, and recognizing their contributions and achievements. Engagement and involvement can increase your stakeholder satisfaction, loyalty, and support for your project.

6 Evaluate and improve

The sixth step is to evaluate and improve your stakeholder management practices. Evaluation and improvement are the processes that you use to measure and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of your stakeholder management. You should try to evaluate and improve your stakeholder management by collecting and analyzing data and feedback from your stakeholders, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your stakeholder management, and implementing actions and recommendations to improve your stakeholder management. Evaluation and improvement can help you learn from your experiences and continuously improve your stakeholder management skills and outcomes.

7 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?