Managing Project Stakeholder Relationships
Course Overview
This course provides a thorough understanding of how to identify, analyze, engage, and manage stakeholders effectively throughout the project lifecycle. Participants will learn to build strong relationships, manage expectations, address conflicts, and maintain stakeholder support to ensure project success. The course emphasizes practical tools and communication strategies for managing diverse stakeholder groups.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify all relevant project stakeholders and understand their roles, interests, and influence
- Analyze stakeholder needs and expectations using structured tools
- Develop and implement comprehensive stakeholder engagement and communication plans
- Manage conflicts and resolve stakeholder issues proactively and diplomatically
- Build trust and long-term relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Monitor stakeholder engagement and adjust strategies as projects evolve
Who Should Attend
- Project and Program Managers
- Business Analysts and Communication Specialists
- Client and Vendor Relationship Managers
- Change Managers and Team Leaders
- Project Sponsors and Steering Committee Members
Course Outline
Introduction to Stakeholder Management
- Defining stakeholders and their importance to project success
- Categorizing stakeholders: internal, external, primary, secondary
- The impact of stakeholder attitudes and power on projects
- Key principles of stakeholder engagement
Stakeholder Identification and Analysis
- Techniques for identifying stakeholders: brainstorming, interviews, document analysis
- Stakeholder mapping tools: Power/Interest Grid, Influence/Impact Matrix
- Assessing stakeholder expectations, motivations, and potential resistance
- Prioritizing stakeholders based on influence and interest
Planning Stakeholder Engagement
- Developing tailored engagement strategies for different stakeholder groups
- Communication planning: messages, channels, frequency
- Assigning roles and responsibilities for engagement activities
- Setting engagement objectives and success criteria
Engaging and Managing Stakeholder Relationships
- Building and maintaining trust and credibility
- Active listening and effective communication skills
- Negotiating and managing stakeholder expectations
- Conflict identification and resolution techniques
- Handling difficult or resistant stakeholders
Monitoring and Adjusting Stakeholder Engagement
- Collecting and analyzing feedback from stakeholders
- Measuring engagement effectiveness and outcomes
- Adapting stakeholder management plans in response to changes
- Documenting and reporting stakeholder interactions and issues
Case Studies and Practical Exercises
- Stakeholder mapping and analysis workshop
- Role-play exercises managing challenging stakeholder interactions
- Developing and presenting stakeholder engagement plans for sample projects
- Real-world case study reviews and lessons learned