Here's how you can lead and influence senior stakeholders with assertiveness and confidence.

Senior stakeholders respect expertise, preparation and a solutions-focused mindset. By being well prepared with deep knowledge and anticipating their needs, you can engage with confidence, earn their attention, and position yourself as a valuable partner in achieving shared goals.

I’ve worked a lot in business intelligence teams that provide reports to senior stakeholders. In the drive for more data-driven decision making, there is a danger of presenting data, KPIs or whatever, that are difficult to understand or don’t resonate with the audience. Data can confuse rather than support senior stakeholders. This can affect your ability to land ideas or influence their thinking. To ensure clear communication that supports senior stakeholders, use data only where it usefully provides evidence to support their business priorities. If you are influencing a group, pre-brief each individual so they can think and feedback. This takes more of your time but shows you respect their opinion and will get them onside.

In my career so far, Clear and concise communication is essential when dealing with senior leaders. Present your ideas and proposals in a structured manner, using executive summaries, bullet points, and visuals to convey your message efficiently. Being direct and to the point, without unnecessary jargon or details, ensures your message is understood and respected.

What I find works best is to draw and visualise your understanding. Could be using post-it’s, a sketch, a Mural board, whatever works. This is really valuable as it helps you pull together everything you’ve heard into a cohesive picture and is a great way to get feedback, ask further questions and listen further. It shows you get what they’ve said. The term “straw man” (which not everyone likes!) refers to pulling together a rough view of what you’ve heard so you can present it back for feedback. Offer to do one of these and you’ll really show off your active listening!

Confidence and assertiveness are key in these kind of interactions. Maintain good posture, eye contact, and a calm demeanor to project confidence. Use assertive language to state your points firmly yet respectfully, and don’t hesitate to express your opinions and stand by your recommendations. This assertiveness, combined with respect, can significantly influence senior stakeholders.