Continuing my discussion of soft skills, I’ll share a trick that can help to navigate the space of murky interests and multiple stakeholders, which is building a stakeholder map. ”
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“Identify your key stakeholders (peers and execs), and write down the questions they ask and the comments they make at every meeting you attend with them. Ask yourself “Why are they asking/saying that?” Over time, you’ll start to see patterns that reveal their underlying motivations. ”
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“And once you get a hint of those motivations, you can start using that. Before every meeting with a stakeholder, take a look at what patterns you’ve observed from them, and adjust your comments accordingly. Whether you are looking for support for a new project, or reporting on progress at a review where they are present, you can explain how your work addresses their interests. And by showing that you care about their success, you will earn their trust and increase your influence.”
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“As you practice this skill, it gets easier to maintain the stakeholder map in your mind, and to look for impactful work that will help multiple stakeholders. And that’s one way to grow your scope and impact as a leader. ”
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“What tips for building soft skills like influence do you have?”
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“#leadership #coaching #stakeholdermanagement #influence