Relationships matter: Stakeholders and Micromoves

Let's learn about Stakeholders and Micromoves

Our Human-Centered Design programs at Human Factors Research & Design (HFR&D) starts with people. Individuals through to #stakeholders. Firstly, the internal stakeholders, as without an all-agreeing-joyful, on-the-same-boat, same-side cross-functional team, it is and will be impossible to achieve anything.

#StakeholderMapping and the relationships that lead to great synergy within any cross functional teams have something important to consider i.e. #Micromoves ... because it is human-centered.

Renowned researchers Kerry Roberts Gibson, PhD and Beth Schinoff in their Harvard Business Review article, "The Little Things That Affect Our Work Relationships", summed up a nice definition for MICROMOVES, as

“small actions or behaviors that seem inconsequential in the moment but affect how we relate to one another”.

Further, Professors Gibson and Schnioff explain that,

“Micromoves are like the steps that characterize a dance. You take a step and your co-worker takes a step. Each step, or micromove, can change the direction of the relationship. A small act of gratitude or compassion – such as saying “thank you” when someone holds a door open or being understanding when someone is late for a meeting – can bring people together and help build long-term trust, researchers have suggested. “

Add to that a timely email response to your colleagues or how you engage with colleagues on their social media posts for instance.

When someone joins your organisation (in another team), don't wait to be introduced, jump in and introduce yourself, show them around, make friends, learn about them and what they do, share what you do, invite them to your team meet up, introduce everyone. Acts of kindness and rudeness are the first two things people remember, trust the first one and power of micromoves, it works!

Here are 5 guiding principles on micromoves by Gibson and Schnioff (you can read more about each of these on their HBR blog):

1. Understand your co-worker’s view (read Stakeholders)
2. Recognise that micromoves are not always intentional
3. Understand your role in the story?
4. Write down your micromoves
5. Know that ‘good’ and ‘bad’ micromoves aren’t created equal?

Stakeholders are people, hence Human-Centered Ops kicks in, and hence remember,

• When working with people, each relationship is different
• Discipline: Think through your behavior before your act
• Be aware of your objectives- Objectivity reveals the right path
• Lead with small gestures

So the next time you invite stakeholders to participate in your project, first build your way towards creating a healthy human-centered, unbiased relationship synergy before inviting someone as a stakeholder, these alliances/relationships will last a lifetime. Your empathetic micromoves will make your stakeholders want to work with you, support you and trust you.

Micromoves are helpful not just for the design teams but for any/all team, groups and communities.

You might want to additionally read this article, "Make The Coffee: Small Gestures Go A Long Way At Work", on Forbes , by Darren Shimkus ?

Here are 2 ready-to-use templates on Stakeholder mapping on Mural . You'll be surprised with what these exercises unpack on how much you know the people you want to invite and what part you think they will play. Try them out.

1) https://www.mural.co/templates/stakeholder-mapping

2) https://www.mural.co/templates/stakeholder-mapping-2

Hope you found this simple lesson useful, if you do, share it with others or tag them below.

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References: Kerry Roberts Gibson, PhD , Beth Schinoff , Darren Shimkus ?