What do you do if your stakeholders are not engaged in your Product Management decisions?

I consider myself fortunate and privileged to have both stakeholders and product leaders deeply engaged in our product management decisions. This not only helps in establishing clear expectations but also paves the way for ongoing improvement. Although, If stakeholders aren't engaged, start by asking why and listen to their concerns. Explain how their input can benefit the product and the organisation. Schedule regular meetings and invite their feedback. Show them the impact of their involvement. Stay flexible and adapt to their needs to foster collaboration.

Are you doing more talking than listening? Are you consistently communicating, or are your operating mechanics broken and not setting expectations? It all boils down to setting a stage for buy-in through transparent and consistent communication, accountability, and ultimately showing results.

Figure out what is at the top of the minds of your stakeholders. There might be different reasons why your stakeholders are disengaged: end of the quarter, bad financial results of your main product, fundraising, not ambitious goals of your product, etc. When you figure it out, understand if it's a time manner. If not, figure out, how you can align your goals with the company's strategic KPIs and then frame your pitch to stakeholders to show them how your product crucially influences strategic goals.

The following ways will help you discover the reason why the stakeholders are not engaged:?? 1- Talk to the stakeholders about the product and ask for their opinion. 2- Invite them in some meetings and make sure they have enough knowledge about the product under development. 3- Ask them to introduce their network to you. 4- If you have stakeholders interested in the product, get them help to talk with other stakeholders. 5- If they are interested in other products, consult with the product manager of other products. ??The type of non-cooperation of the stakeholders in the above cases will help you discover the reason why they are not engaged.

Engaging stakeholders in product management decisions is crucial for the success of a product. Some ways to improve engagement are - -> Understand Their Interests: Identify what motivates your stakeholders and how your product aligns with their goals. ->Effective Communication: Keep stakeholders informed with regular updates and be transparent about product progress and challenges. ->Inclusive Decision-Making: Involve stakeholders in the decision-making process by seeking their input and considering their feedback. -> Build Relationships: Establish trust through consistent and honest interactions. ->Tailor Your Approach: Different stakeholders may require different levels of detail or types of communication.

For me it boils down to the ABCD of product management i.e. Analytics, Business Model, Collaboration and Design thinking principles. Either one of these holds the key to unlock stakeholder's interest. Since Product Manager is such a central POC you must understand and communicate the common values and speak the language of your stakeholder. Appeal to the side which they listen to the most, either it is P&L, Tech, Design, Project upside, Consumer Insight, process improvement/efficiency or business growth potential. Having a boarder horizon of the core values of the business and commercial viability helps driving more engagement.

Communicating the value of stakeholder engagement is crucial for successful product management: Linking Contributions to Success: - Clearly articulate how stakeholders' input directly impacts the product's success - Connect their efforts to achieving both their personal goals and the company's objectives - Show how informed decisions lead to a better product, enhancing customer satisfaction and achieving shared goals Motivating Engagement: - Consistently communicate the significance of each stakeholder's role in the product development process - Illustrate how their contributions align with broader objectives & drive positive outcomes - Inspire active participation by demonstrating the direct impact of their involvement on project success

Prepare a presentation for your stakeholder, focusing on strategic KPIs you help improve. You need to figure out what is the most important for your stakeholders and emphasize it in your presentation.

Effectively communicate the value of stakeholder engagement to garner their involvement in Product Management decisions. Highlight how their input influences product success, customer satisfaction, and business outcomes. Showcase case studies or testimonials demonstrating the impact of stakeholder collaboration on previous initiatives. Emphasize the opportunity for stakeholders to shape product direction, enhance relevance, and drive innovation. Illustrate the connection between engaged stakeholders and improved decision-making, leading to more successful outcomes and increased stakeholder satisfaction. By articulating the benefits, you motivate stakeholders to actively participate and invest in the product management process.

In such a scenario, I would prioritize communication to emphasize the significance of stakeholder engagement. I'd articulate how their input enriches decision-making, ensuring alignment with market needs and enhancing product success. By demonstrating the direct correlation between stakeholder involvement and product outcomes, I aim to inspire their active participation. Engaged stakeholders bring diverse perspectives, fostering innovation and mitigating risks. Moreover, their buy-in bolsters team morale and fosters a sense of ownership, crucial for sustained product growth. Effective stakeholder engagement cultivates a collaborative culture, driving collective product excellence.

Take the time to understand each stakeholder’s interests, priorities, and concerns regarding the product. This insight will help in tailoring communication. Clearly communicate the importance of stakeholder involvement in product management decisions. Keep stakeholders informed about the progress of the product and any key decisions being made. Actively invite stakeholders to participate in product management discussions, meetings, and workshops. Provide various channels for stakeholders to provide input, such as surveys, feedback forms, or open forums. Organize collaborative sessions, such as brainstorming workshops or design thinking sessions, where stakeholders can work together to generate ideas and solutions.

Facilitating stakeholder involvement is key to successful product management: Structured Opportunities: - Establish regular update meetings or dedicated feedback sessions to gather input - Structure interactions to be convenient and respectful of stakeholders' time commitments Multiple Communication Channels: - Offer various channels for feedback such as surveys, collaborative tools, or email - Provide flexibility for stakeholders to contribute at their convenience - Utilize technology to streamline communication and make it easier for stakeholders to engage

Facilitate stakeholder involvement by creating opportunities for active participation and collaboration. Organize regular meetings, workshops, or focus groups to gather insights, feedback, and ideas from stakeholders. Provide clear channels for communication and encourage open dialogue to foster engagement. Tailor engagement approaches to accommodate diverse stakeholder preferences and schedules. Empower stakeholders by involving them in decision-making processes, problem-solving activities, and project planning. By facilitating their involvement, you build trust, alignment, and commitment, leading to more effective Product Management decisions and outcomes.

I'd establish clear channels of communication, such as regular meetings, updates, and feedback sessions, to ensure stakeholders feel informed and involved throughout the product lifecycle. Secondly, I'd tailor communication to each stakeholder group, highlighting how their expertise and insights contribute to better decision-making and product outcomes. Additionally, I'd create opportunities for hands-on involvement, such as workshops or user testing sessions, to encourage active participation and ownership. Facilitate involvement through transparent communication and collaborative activities, we can harness the collective intelligence of stakeholders to drive product success.

If stakeholders aren't engaged, facilitate involvement by inviting them to participate in decision-making processes. Clarify the benefits of their input, actively listen to their concerns, and adjust strategies accordingly. By fostering collaboration and inclusivity, you can ensure their perspectives are valued and incorporated into product management decisions.

First, one should be able to connect the product decisions to stakeholders specific goals and objectives, showing how their input would directly impact their success. Second, Provide clear, actionable requests for feedback and input, making it simple for them to engage. Finally, Celebrate wins. Share successes and progress, demonstrating how their input had made a difference. Remember, stakeholder engagement is a continuous effort.

With my experience, stakeholder always have reasons and sometimes fair reasons to not to engage much. This could be due to multiple reasons. As a product manager, I would always ensure them that the outcome will always be beneficial to everyone involved and hence explain how their engagement can always be for the best of everyone involved. This needs a lot of empathy and being able to walk in their shoes and understand the the reasons.

After you've shared your vision, listen to what your team has to say. The costume designer might have a great idea for the outfits that makes your play even better, just like a stakeholder might have insights that can improve your product. Their experience and different perspectives can add value you might not have seen on your own. When parts of the play come together because of everyone's hard work, like a scene that gets lots of applause, share that success with your team. Similarly, when stakeholders see that their feedback has led to positive outcomes for the product, they'll be more motivated and invested in the process.

Delegate ownership of specific decisions or aspects of the product to stakeholders based on their expertise and interests. Involve them in areas where their input can directly impact outcomes Increased Engagement: -When stakeholders feel their contributions matter and have a tangible impact, they become more invested in the product management process -Empowerment fosters a sense of ownership and accountability, driving greater engagement and commitment Building Trust and Shared Responsibility: -Empowering stakeholders builds trust by demonstrating confidence in their abilities & insights -It fosters a culture of shared responsibility where stakeholders are actively involved in shaping the product's success

Clearly define the roles of each stakeholder in the product management process. Ensure that stakeholders understand how their input contributes to decision-making and the success of the product. Encourage stakeholders to take ownership of specific aspects of the product management process. Empower stakeholders to make decisions within their areas of expertise and authority. Provide them with the autonomy to take action and implement solutions without micromanagement. Provide training and development opportunities to stakeholders to enhance their skills and capabilities related to product management. Foster collaboration and cross-functional teamwork among stakeholders to solve problems and make decisions collaboratively.

Send weekly updates about your progress to stakeholders. Mention there both your wins and difficulties you face. Ask your stakeholders for help, in this way, you will both resolve your challenges faster and make your stakeholders engaged with your product. You can also schedule monthly update calls, where you share important updates with your stakeholders, run demos of the product and answer questions they have.

Provide transparency by sharing comprehensive updates and insights into the product management process and progress with stakeholders. Communicate openly about project timelines, milestones, and challenges, fostering a sense of inclusion and trust. Utilize accessible communication channels, such as regular status reports, dashboards, or project management tools, to keep stakeholders informed. Encourage feedback and questions to ensure clarity and address concerns promptly. By promoting transparency, you enhance stakeholder understanding, engagement, and confidence in the product management process, leading to stronger relationships and more effective collaboration.

Enhancing stakeholder connection through transparency is vital in product management: Regular Updates: - Share consistent updates on project milestones, challenges, and successes - Keep stakeholders informed about progress and upcoming plans Increased Engagement: - When stakeholders have a clear view of the product's status and direction, they feel more engaged and invested in its success - Transparency fosters a sense of involvement and importance in the decision-making process Building Trust: - Transparency demonstrates respect for stakeholders' roles and contributions - It builds trust by showing openness to feedback and valuing their input in the product management process

As a PM, it's important to be transparent. Explain the rationale behind certain decisions, why we choose one option over another, and why some things might not work. This openness helps build trust with stakeholders. Not everyone will agree, but the idea is to be clear and build a transparent process. Everybody is here to make the product better, but at the end of the day, as a PM, it's important to be patient in building this culture. Ultimately, we are the ones to justify our decisions, whether they succeed or fail. Ensure everyone feels involved.

If stakeholders aren't engaged, provide transparency. Share the rationale behind decisions, invite their feedback, and clarify how their input impacts outcomes. Transparency builds trust and fosters active involvement

Even with low engagement, one can acknowledge efforts to build goodwill. Public recognition: Mention past contributions in meetings/reports, highlighting their value. Personalized thanks: A quick email or note expressing appreciation for their time, even if participation wasn't extensive. Focus on the future: Frame it as "building a stronger partnership" and "looking forward to their future insights." This shows respect and creates an incentive for them to become more involved.

- Make efforts in building positive relationships with stakeholders based on trust, respect, and mutual understanding. - Cultivate open lines of communication and seek to understand their perspectives, priorities, and concerns.