Effective Ongoing Stakeholder Management Course

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This stakeholder management course delivers the principles of effective stakeholder management in everyday working situations. Stakeholders are all those individuals and team members involved in helping the organisation to achieve its objectives.

This stakeholder management course deals with how to effectively manage a wide variety of stakeholders in a “Business As Usual” context, rather than specifically on a project basis. We will examine stakeholders from a variety of perspectives, including power and interest dimensions, and in so doing, develop techniques for dealing with adversaries and for building advocates.

Objectives

Course objectives include:

• effectively communicating with all stakeholder groups
• engaging with stakeholders in a way that produces stronger results from a time, cost and quality perspective
• leading a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve required outcomes, whilst satisfying each stakeholder’s agenda
• building relationships that maximise value and minimise waste for each stakeholder group
• negotiating in difficult situations to achieve wining outcomes for yourself and each stakeholder group
• managing change so that it is successfully embraced at all levels
• ensuring there is goal alignment across each stakeholder group for moving ahead in the same direction.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• communicate effectively with stakeholders so as to deliver outcomes based on what is truly valued
• ensure each stakeholder is motivated for delivering required outcomes in a time-efficient manner
• set healthy boundaries and resolve conflicts with stakeholders so as to achieve favourable outcomes
• manage change so that stakeholders are well-aligned in moving forward
• work collaboratively and creatively with stakeholders in resolving problems and building opportunities
• extend ongoing stakeholder management principles to also manage project-based stakeholders effectively.

Content

Communicating and aligning needs to create value

Introducing a model for communication and techniques for effective communication. Identifying what is truly of value to yourself and each stakeholder group; how to identify waste and eliminate it.

Engaging and motivating stakeholders to achieve goals

How to effectively lead stakeholders, both internally and externally, and where there is no direct reporting line. Identifying what motivates each stakeholder and engaging them to achieve objectives in the most efficient and rewarding ways.

Managing demanding and difficult stakeholders, setting boundaries and resolving conflicts to build bonds.

Overcoming barriers to establishing worthwhile stakeholder relations, setting healthy boundaries for achieving respect, negotiating to resolve conflicts and in so doing, and developing stronger relationships based on increased understanding.

Managing stakeholders through a change process

During any activity with stakeholders, the need for change can pose challenges. Several models for dealing with change will be examined for best managing each change as it presents.

Dealing with risks and solving problems with stakeholders creatively

Risk appetite is likely to vary across stakeholder groups and so problems and opportunities that arise can be viewed differently by each group. Ways of solving problems creatively when there are diverse risk profiles and interests, as well as needs is covered in this part of the course.

Managing project-based stakeholders

Effective management of project-based stakeholders using PMBOK methodology will be contrasted to techniques for managing stakeholders on an ongoing basis.

Intended Audience

Suitable for anyone who is working with stakeholders, where there is no direct reporting relationship. These scenarios arise across commercial, government and not-for-profit sectors. Types of roles include:

• Business managers
• Department managers
• Product/Service managers
• Change/Risk managers
• Sales/Marketing/Customer Service managers
• Technical managers
• Supply chain/Procurement managers
• General Managers
• Operations Managers
• Executive Officers.

Delivery Style

This course lays a theoretical foundation for effective stakeholder management whilst providing time or practical application across a range of scenarios. You will be encouraged to volunteer situations, and an action plan will be developed for moving forward using course principles. Class time will include lectures, demonstrations, roe, plays, paired activities and group work.