Hey Reader,
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As an engineering leader, your focus is working with the technical side of a company. However, there will be crucial times when you have to influence stakeholders on the business side.
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They have one main question, “Why does this matter?”
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In this scenario, “this” is whatever you need support or buy-in from the stakeholders on.
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When you present something to stakeholders, it is essential that you tie the work you’re doing back to the business impact — the why.
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How do you prepare for this?
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Start by thinking about the stakeholders involved:
▶️ Who are the relevant stakeholders? What are their roles?
▶️ What are their main motivations? And how do they tie to the business’s goals?
▶️ What is it they value?
▶️ What is their point of view?
▶️ What strategies have you used or seen others use to influence them successfully in the past?
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This will help you understand how to communicate the reasoning to each stakeholder. You know why this matter is so crucial, and now it’s time to prove it.
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Providing metrics can be very useful, especially if you’re in a data driven organization. You want to show the clear connection between their goals as stakeholders, the overall business goals and how your proposal is beneficial to achieving both.
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Building trust over time is crucial. You can reinforce your skills and trustworthiness by communicating effectively to ensure…
✅ Stakeholders feel like they know the information they need.
✅ They’re given a heads-up when things are going off track.
✅ You raise questions and ask them to make decisions when necessary.
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When everyone involved is aligned with the initiative’s purpose, it enables a sense of empowerment and mutual trust.
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Looking to improve how you communicate with your stakeholders? Reply to this email, and I’ll share a copy of my Communications Audit Worksheet so you can assess your current practices and identify areas for improvement.
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In your corner,
Jossie
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