Coaching Stakeholder Collaboration

In this episode, Christian Idiodi and fellow SVPG partner Lea Hickman go deep on stakeholder collaboration. They explain what a stakeholder is and exactly how to collaborate with them. Learn from real life examples and tactical advice for avoiding common pitfalls.

In this discussion we unpack:
• A practical definition or “stakeholder”
• How they can be enablers rather than barriers
• The importance of being proactive
• Why one-on-ones are better than group meetings
• How to navigate stakeholder-driven roadmaps

References:
• Pledge to Stakeholders: https://www.svpg.com/pledge-to-stakeholders/
• Stakeholder Management: https://www.svpg.com/stakeholder-management/
• The Rule of Improv, “Yes, and…”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_and...
• The 5 Whys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkuNImX8Jdo

Where to find SVPG:
• SVPG’s newest book, TRANSFORMED: https://www.svpg.com/books/transformed-moving-to-the-product-operating-model/
• Other books: https://www.svpg.com/books/
• Articles: https://www.svpg.com/articles/
• Workshops: https://www.svpg.com/
• Videos: https://www.svpg.com/videos/

Where to find Christian Idiodi:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cidiodi/

Where to find Lea Hickman:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahickman/

Timestamps:
(01:15) Defining "stakeholder" (voice vs vote)
(04:12) Example of identifying and engaging stakeholders
(09:35) Example of stakeholders being enablers, not barriers
(11:01) The importance of being proactive
(13:21) Engaging via documents vs conversations
(16:13) Why one-on-ones are better than group meetings
(17:53) The value of engaging with the sales team
(19:43) Navigating stakeholder-driven roadmaps
(24:24) How to help stakeholders understand customer problems
(27:14) The rule of improv in stakeholder engagement
(28:23) Outro

Disclaimer:
While this podcast is named “Product Therapy”, it is not hosted by licensed therapists or mental health professionals, and it is in no way a substitute for professional mental health services. We recognize the importance of mental well-being and encourage anyone facing personal difficulties to seek support from qualified professionals. See https://findahelpline.com/

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