Five tips for managing those ‘difficult’ internal stakeholders

Sometimes, dealing with people at work can be hard, particularly if those people are senior to you and it feels like they don’t understand your role or what you’re trying to do. And if you’ve got more than one internal stakeholder like that, overcoming these issues can feel like an enormous challenge. But it’s often your relationships with these stakeholders which will make or break a project. And it’s why the ability to forge good relationships is such a crucial part of an Internal Comms professional’s role. If you are in the thick of it though, it can be all too easy to become so stressed you forget the basics. So, here is a reminder of how to manage those ‘difficult’ internal stakeholders.

1.       Take the time to understand your stakeholders. There can be many different reasons why you, or your work, encounters resistance. Perhaps your stakeholder is quite technical and doesn’t like having what they do explained in a way they can’t relate to. Or they have different priorities and concerns and so see internal comms as an extra they shouldn’t have to do. If you have lots of different stakeholders, start by mapping out who they are and how important they are to your project. You can then work on understanding their point of view, expectations and goals, as well as what they need in order for you to be able to do your job. Engage them in discussion – you might find they’re being difficult for a reason. Ask their advice and actively listen. All of this will help you with the next point.

2.       Build strong relationships. It sounds like an obvious one, but this does take time. It’s about getting to know your stakeholders personally and professionally. Make sure you know how they prefer to communicate – some prefer emails, while others like face to face. If you can, go for regular, informal check-ins, as they can be a great way to build trust and rapport. They’ll also help you to resolve any issues as they arise. 

3.       Set boundaries and clear expectations. Doing this will prevent a lot of issues further down the line. Be clear about what can be achieved, the timelines and any potential challenges. You’ll get much more respect from difficult stakeholders by doing this than if you overpromise because you’re eager to please. The last thing you want anyone to think is that you’ve underdelivered.  

4.       Nail a really good brief. Here, if you haven’t got one already, it can be handy to have a template or checklist to make sure you don’t forget to ask any vital questions when you’re taking a brief. Once you’ve taken it, confirm back with them what their requirements are, agree the process you’ll follow and at what points you’ll check-in. Again, we can’t stress this enough, make sure that everyone is clear about who has what roles and responsibilities. 

5.       When things go well, recognise it and celebrate with your stakeholders. This is part of good relationship building. Acknowledging contributions and celebrating milestones can strengthen relationships and build a positive team spirit. It’ll also help your more difficult stakeholders remain engaged and supportive.

These five tips will help you to build better working relationships with your stakeholders, and give you the opportunity to educate them on the power of good internal communications.

Managing difficult stakeholders requires a combination of strong communication skills, empathy and strategic thinking. Stay professional – and calm – and you might just find your biggest detractor becomes your greatest champion. 

If you need some help with winning over important stakeholders in your business give us a shout. Whether you have an important brief to nail, a big presentation to deliver or a project to knock out of the park, we’d love to help. Contact us now for a chat.