You're working with senior stakeholders on a project. How can you improve your decision-making?

Every initiative starts with an idea. I like to spend upfront time getting to know my stakeholders and to help tehem uncover the value of their unique idea. Doing so helps everyone determine the viability and feasibility about the potential effort, impact and most importantly the actual need to convert an idea into an initiative. Areas I like to explore upfront: - What is the driving force behind the initiative? - What expectations may be. - What they don’t want. - How does this get us closer to business objectives? - At the end of the day, what determines if the initiative was truly successful or not? Once my playing field is established, then it’s my job to remind them of their needs and how we will help support them.

Very early in my career I was fortunate to be a junior pm for a mentor who would take me along to his meetings with senior executives planning a merger between two banks. After each meeting, he would challenge me on each executive and what I thought they said. Then he’d teach me by translating what they really said and explaining what they wanted. Those were invaluable lessons in determining motivation and how to respond to it when the stakes (and stakeholders) were that high.

To improve our decision making first we have to understand if our goal/objective aligns with Stakeholders goals which in turn aligns with organizational goals. Once we have clarity on this key point it will be easier for both us and stakeholder to speak common language and then one can have clear and transparent conversation

I recommend spending some time on aligning with the problem that an idea or concept or campaign is striving to solve. Often times I’ve seen partners come to the table starting with a solution and then trying to determine how to get it implemented. However, that solution isn’t grounded back to a true business need or user need and ultimately underperforms because of that. Spend time to get truly aligned with your partner(s) and you’ll have a strong foundation to lean on when it comes to making decisions.

In my experience Improving decision-making with senior stakeholders involves gathering comprehensive data, seeking diverse perspectives, employing critical thinking, using decision-making frameworks, maintaining transparent communication, and learning from past outcomes.

Understanding the goals of senior stakeholders is paramount for effective decision-making. I engage in active dialogue with stakeholders to uncover their objectives, success metrics, and concerns. This allows me to align decisions with their expectations and priorities. By asking probing questions and fostering open communication, I ensure decisions are driven by a deep understanding of stakeholder needs and project objectives.

As well as doing this, it is important not to be too reticent. If you look at a project in a slightly different way, and see differing outcomes, perhaps only nuanced from the consensus of the senior stakeholders, it may be worth sharing. Maybe they will see merit in your interpretation and seek to incorporate those ideas into a revised overall strategy, It might end-up being the thing that gets you noticed.

1. Analyse each stakeholder and their impact on the particular project. 2. Understand POV of each stakeholder. Is it helpful or valuable to the descision making process. 3. Effective communication and engagement ( Directly address each stakeholder) 4. Be thorough with stakeholder expectation 5. "FINANCIAL" and emotional interest of stakeholder in the project outcome. 6. Data driven approach. 7. Data mining and impact analysis.

Understand the BIG picture!! Senior stakeholders always have a razor sharp view of what they want the project to achieve. Spend time to understand their view and try to document your understanding and get their endorsement. This will help in avoiding any miscommunication at a later stage.

In my experience, this is where a vision is critical. It really doesn’t take long to create the vision for whatever endeavor you’re undertaking. Prior to starting the endeavor the stakeholders and the project manager should work together to make sure that they have a comprehensive vision for the endeavor. The time to create the vision will be relative to the size of the endeavor. A good vision should have three or four distinct values for the organization; one or two sentence mission, statement; and then you would have your goals. Having this documented for any endeavor, makes it a lot easier to align endeavors with stakeholders expectations. I learned a lot about vision from Joseph Quigley and his book “vision “, it is very insightful.

Align goals: Ensure everyone agrees on project goals to measure options effectively. Data & Evidence: Back your arguments with research, facts, and expert opinions. Present options logically: Outline pros, cons, and risks of each solution. Focus on facts: Avoid biases and emotional appeals during discussions. Evaluate trade-offs: Analyze which option best aligns with project goals.

Employing logical reasoning is essential for making informed decisions. By systematically analyzing facts and evidence, I ensure decisions are objective and based on reliable information rather than personal biases or emotions. I define the problem clearly, gather relevant data, evaluate options objectively, and draw conclusions backed by sound reasoning. This approach helps mitigate risks and enhances the likelihood of successful project outcomes.

Senior stakeholders often have a lot going on and as such when communicating with them; • Ensure you understand their top priorities, concerns and goals. • Do not generalise your communication and updates. Be specific in your message highlighting key points that they need to be aware of. Depending on your organisation or industry this could include highlighting risks, benefits, costs, customer issues, competitor review. • Ensure your communication reflects the effort you have put in trying to address and resolve challenges. • Keep the communication consistent and transparent • Take their feedback into account and incorporate any key recommendations they give

Effectively communication will prove to be great asset and will help you in building your equity in front of the senior stakeholders. Always remember they have less time, so practice your elevator pitch effectively. If possible, understand the social style of the stakeholders and adapt your communication accordingly.

Effective communication is paramount in fostering strong relationships with senior stakeholders. I prioritize clear, concise, and transparent communication channels to ensure mutual understanding and alignment of project objectives. By providing context, rationale, and evidence behind decisions, I establish credibility and trust, encouraging stakeholders to engage actively in the decision-making process. Actively listening to their feedback and addressing concerns promptly further strengthens collaboration and promotes project success.

Seeking feedback is one way you will continually grow while working with senior leaders, and after you have delivered any expected projects or results. Be open to continually learning ways to improve and become more proficient. Feedback is a gift - how you use the gift is up to you. Get diverse perspectives from a variety of leaders so you can see your perceptions through many lenses. Look for trends and don’t stress over anomalies. Over time, you will start to build character profiles for leaders and you will know what they expect when work is to be delivered. Don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions and remove any assumptions. Always look for future opportunities to demonstrate improvements and that feedback has been acknowledged.

Get diverse perspectives by talking to senior stakeholders with different expertise relevant to your project. Actively listen and learn by asking open-ended questions, attentively listening to their concerns, and summarizing their input for clarity. Evaluate and integrate feedback by considering the source, objectively analyzing suggestions, and incorporating valuable insights into your decisions. Follow up and communicate by thanking stakeholders and explaining how their input influenced the final decision.

I actively seek feedback from senior stakeholders to enhance my decision-making and drive project success. By inviting their opinions and suggestions, I demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration. I value their insights and perspectives, incorporating them into my decision-making process to ensure alignment with project goals and expectations. Furthermore, I use feedback as a catalyst for learning, refining strategies, and adapting to changing circumstances, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence within the project team

I understand the importance of regular review and reflection to refine decision-making processes and enhance project outcomes. By dedicating time to critically assess past decisions, I identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Utilizing tools like SWOT analysis and decision matrices allows me to evaluate the effectiveness of my strategies and identify areas for refinement. Furthermore, reflecting on the communication with senior stakeholders helps me adapt my approach to better align with their expectations and preferences. This commitment to continuous improvement ensures that I deliver optimal results and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

Reviewing decisions with senior stakeholders helps improve decision-making. Reflect on the process: Did you consider all options and biases? Analyze the outcome: Did it meet project goals? Reflect on stakeholder perspectives too. This self-reflection helps you identify areas for improvement and develop a stronger decision-making framework for future projects.

Focus on building trust and rapport first. This will help to manage expectations and scope; allowing you to balance common interests and priorities....