What do you do when senior stakeholders resist your initiatives?

1 Understand the root cause

The first step is to understand why the senior stakeholders are resisting your initiatives. Is it because they have different goals, expectations, or priorities? Is it because they lack information, trust, or confidence in your approach? Is it because they feel threatened, ignored, or disrespected by your actions? By identifying the root cause, you can tailor your communication and engagement strategy to address their concerns and needs.

2 Listen and empathize

The second step is to listen and empathize with the senior stakeholders. Rather than dismissing or arguing with their feedback, try to understand their perspective and acknowledge their emotions. Ask open-ended questions, paraphrase their points, and show genuine interest and respect. By listening and empathizing, you can build rapport, trust, and credibility with the senior stakeholders, and reduce their defensiveness and hostility.

3 Align and influence

The third step is to align and influence the senior stakeholders. Once you have established a positive relationship, you can try to persuade them to support your initiatives. To do this, you need to demonstrate how your initiatives align with their goals, values, and interests, and how they can benefit from them. You also need to provide clear and compelling evidence, such as data, facts, testimonials, or case studies, to back up your claims. Additionally, you need to address any risks, issues, or objections that they may have, and propose solutions or alternatives.

4 Negotiate and compromise

The fourth step is to negotiate and compromise with the senior stakeholders. Sometimes, you may not be able to convince them to fully agree with your initiatives, but you can still find some common ground and mutual benefit. To negotiate and compromise, you need to be flexible, creative, and respectful. You also need to know your limits, priorities, and trade-offs. For example, you may offer some concessions or incentives in exchange for their support or approval, or you may modify some aspects of your initiatives to accommodate their preferences or requirements.

5 Follow up and monitor

The fifth step is to follow up and monitor the senior stakeholders. After you have reached an agreement or a resolution, you need to keep them informed and involved in your initiatives. You also need to track their actions, feedback, and satisfaction, and address any issues or concerns that may arise. By following up and monitoring, you can ensure that the senior stakeholders are committed and accountable to your initiatives, and that they do not revert to their previous resistance.

6 Learn and improve

The sixth step is to learn and improve from your experience. Dealing with senior stakeholder resistance can be a valuable opportunity to enhance your skills, knowledge, and relationships. You can reflect on what worked well and what didn't, and identify what you can do better next time. You can also solicit feedback from the senior stakeholders and other parties involved, and incorporate their suggestions and insights into your future initiatives. By learning and improving, you can become a more effective and confident project manager.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?