Team Collaboration & Change
Stakeholder Engagement Plan
Decide how, how often and through which channel you engage each stakeholder.
- Time: 30 to 60 min
- With: Project lead, ideally with the sponsor
- You get: A table that tells you who to talk to, when and how
How to use this worksheet
- List everyone affected by or able to affect the project. Start with names, not roles.
- Rate interest and influence. High influence plus high interest means manage closely; high influence with low interest means keep satisfied.
- Choose the engagement level you need, not the one that is comfortable: lead, support, consult, inform or monitor.
- Set frequency and channel, and capture their main concern so you can address it.
Stakeholders
One row per stakeholder.
Prompts
Ask yourself
- Who could stop the project?
- Who is affected but has no voice yet?
- Who needs to be told before everyone else?
Before you finish
- Every high-influence stakeholder has a named owner for the relationship.
- Engagement levels match what the project needs, not what is easy.
- Concerns are written down so they can be addressed.
Engagement levels
Lead: directly involved in planning and execution. Support: takes part when needed. Consult: gives input and feedback. Inform: receives regular updates. Monitor: minimal involvement, awareness only.
The plan is only useful if it is used. Review it whenever a stakeholder changes or a surprise reaction shows your rating was wrong.
Recommended reading
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- Influence: The Psychology of PersuasionRobert B. Cialdini
The mechanics of persuasion you'll draw on when engaging and aligning stakeholders.
- Crucial ConversationsPatterson, Grenny, McMillan & Switzler
How to handle the high-stakes conversations stakeholder management depends on.