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Louise M. Worsley outlines 6 principles for engaging project stakeholders in stakeholder-led management: Changing how we manage projects
These tenets are worth sharing so I’ve included my explanation of their meanings. (Plus, scroll down to see a handy infographic.)
1. Stakeholders should be involved in decisions that affect them.
2. Participation by stakeholders involves the promise of their contributions in decisions… and they are told how.
3. Stakeholder engagement refers to engaging those who could be affected by or interested about a decision.
4. Stakeholder engagement seeks input from stakeholders about how they would like to be involved
5. Stakeholder engagement provides information, time, and space that allow stakeholders to engage in meaningful ways.
6. It’s never a bad idea being polite
1. Stakeholders should be involved in decisions that affect them.
Your projects are impossible to do by others. However, you can. It won’t work.
Talk to people whose lives have been transformed, even if they seem small.
2. Participation by stakeholders involves the promise of their contributions in decisions… and they are told how.
Talking to people is not enough. Listening is vital. People who listen to others deserve to be heard.
If you are unable or unwilling to incorporate it, let others know so they don’t feel disappointed or left out.
3. Stakeholder engagement refers to engaging those who could be affected by or interested about a decision.
Locate your stakeholders. Asking your stakeholders for recommendations on other people to speak to is the best thing to do.
Keep expanding your network. Almost always, you can find someone who could help.
4. Stakeholder engagement seeks input from stakeholders about how they would like to be involved
Accept that not everyone wants or is able to participate.
Discuss with your stakeholders what engagement means for them. You can offer a variety of ways that people can get involved in your project.
5. Stakeholder engagement provides information, time, and space that allow stakeholders to engage in meaningful ways.
Space is key. Sometimes stakeholders will need more time to absorb changes than they anticipate.
Give them space to think, and the time to make the right choices.
6. It’s never a bad idea being polite
Worsley seems to have it all sorted!
