The intentional leadership of stakeholders determines the success or failure of any initiative. Stakeholders are those that have a vested interest in the success or failure of the work. Every family has stakeholders. Parents have a vested interest in their children. Children wish to be involved in vacation planning. In business, employees are either behind or against any change.
Leaders need to begin with an analysis of their stakeholders. Who are the champions and who are the resistors? The champions will support you in meetings and when you are not around. Resistors will do just the opposite and yet can influence the outcome of the change initiative.
Here are the questions you need to ask yourself as you lead change:
What will be different and better when the change is complete? Recently, Tricia and I remodeled our kitchen. We looked at pictures of the after for hours. We imagined a better kitchen with an island, new appliances and flooring. Your business is undergoing a remodel as well. How will it be different for you and all stakeholders.
Who are your champions? This is more than a list of names. The list should also include your plan to include them in the change process. Include your communication strategy and how they will own various aspects of the project. Remember when the idea or change initiative comes from your employees engagement improves. Tricia is the ultimate champion for the new kitchen. She owned most all the kitchen remodel as a project manager, but she worked with all stakeholders including contractors and specialists.
Who are your resistors? Resistance does not mean opposition. Early on spend time gathering input from the skeptics who may push against your brilliant vision. Inside their skeptical ideas are nuggets of insight, which can inform your plan. Validate and listen to their input. Respond with your solutions or ideas. If you have more resistors than champions, you are facing a battle in reaching your vision.
What is your plan? This is often where leaders stop. Without a clearly outlined plan including what? when? who? Outcomes? the project can likely fail. Be sure to socialize this plan and include resistors and champions in the plan. Adjust your plan along the way, but do not venture out without a road map.
How will you manage risks? Every risk is an opportunity to learn and improve. Document your risks with at least one way you will mitigate the risk.
Start with the end in mind. Start with an analysis of your stakeholders before you move forward. All the great change that happens in business occurs because all change is driven by people.