Two ideas for stakeholder feedback

Before asking your stakeholders for feedback, work out what you need feedback on

It’s been just over 2 weeks since my previous blog on the 9 and a half step strategic process which I’ve been following and part of the reason this blog is a little late is because of all of the stakeholder engagement and feedback I’ve been involved with and am preparing.

This is also my first mobile blog-from my iPad, sat in a Manchester apartment between today and the next!

Today’s blog is about stakeholder engagement and getting feedback. Working for a co-operative means that I’m not in short supply of stakeholders…many of which want a say in how the strategy I’m developing will come into being. I think I’ve learnt two really important things for stakeholder feedback:

1. Work out what you want feedback on
2. Have an opinion before you begin

It seems to me that the best feedback I’ve had so far has not come from ‘blue skies thinking’ sessions or ‘blank sheet of paper’ feedback.. Quite the opposite. Before every individual stakeholder feedback session I’ve had, I’ve thought carefully about exactly what type of feedback I would like to get from that group and prepare a presentation and set of prompt questions based on that information.

And before you think I’ve been cynical about this…please, dear reader, note that I have entered every session with an absolutely genuine and open mind about the feedback. I’ve just thought about what feedback I need and want from each group. Senior management won’t want to feedback on nitty gritty details, but will want to contribute to the overarching mission, vision and set the success measures. Committee members will want to get their individual points across and also establish what success means to them.

In fact, establishing what ‘success looks like’ for each stakeholder group has been the perfect way to make sure I’m on track with my thinking. I would strongly recommend this question feature in any stakeholder feedback session!

Treat every group separately and prepare a set of specific feedback questions for each stakeholder group. There’s no point going through the motions with feedback-make it as worth while as possible. If there’s nothing to gain from getting feedback, then why do it?

My second point is to have an opinion.

All too often it seems that people are worried about stating an opinion or starting point on some thinking. I understand. It’s a bit scary putting your beliefs on the line! But people can buy into (or not) or beliefs far easier than they can a six-point plan.

I’ve found that expressing my view at the outset for these stakeholder feedback sessions-what I believe that the strategy is about, its mission, purpose, suggested goals and how it can improve things has really helped frame where I’m coming from.

I don’t think this applies just to stakeholder feedback-indeed it can apply in team meetings, briefing sessions, project planning, etc. Stating what you believe (and also being open minded to listen and change your mind) really helps to start and frame the conversation.

Anyway, they’re my learning snippets from this fortnight…until next time!