1 The Stakeholder: Know Your People!

The Stakeholder: Know Your People!

So often when we approach a project, we set the objectives, we decide the desired outcomes, we design a methodology and then we set to work. Suddenly there are people who have ideas, who are supporters, those who subtly or directly challenge or present obstacles, and we land at a stop sign.

It is crucial that you look for internal support, work on understanding the overall lanscapfe of the project and stay focused on the human and ‘humanity’ elements of your work.

This is a great time to talk to others about the project, using perhaps your appreciative inquiry approach, or eFire as a model. Listen for those enablers and bumps in the road.

This will save you time, energy and frustration along the way. This is not a ‘gossip’ session or a ;who will get in my way’ activity. It is an essential and value lession in understand the network in which a project exists.