Was sind die effektivsten Wege, um nach einer Dialogsitzung mit den Stakeholdern in Kontakt zu treten?

Strategic Stakeholder Follow-Up: A Clear Path Forward Before connecting with stakeholders, define your purpose. Do you aim to express gratitude, share dialogue outcomes, seek feedback, extend further engagement, or a mix? Tailor your message, tone, and timing accordingly. For prompt thanks, act swiftly. If sharing outcomes, wait for a concise summary. Strategic follow-up ensures your communication aligns with goals, building stronger connections.

In addition to these goals, consider incorporating a co-creation element in your follow-up. If feasible, express a desire to collaborate further based on the insights gained from the dialogue. Invite stakeholders to contribute to the decision-making or strategy development process, emphasizing the value of their perspectives. This approach transforms the follow-up into a continuation of the collaborative journey, reinforcing the idea that stakeholder engagement is an ongoing and meaningful partnership rather than a one-time interaction. By fostering a sense of co-creation, organizations can deepen their relationships with stakeholders and cultivate a more inclusive and impactful decision-making process.

This is key. So often companies focus on securing meetings with high level stakeholders, because they are high level and therefore must be a valuable connect. To be valuable, they must also perceive value from the engagement. So, what outcome are you looking for and what value can you bring to them are the fundamentals to get straight before any engagement. If the stakeholder doesn't walk away feeling they gained from the meeting, you wasted your time and theirs - and they won't thank you for it. Once you know how you can meet their needs, you can define a likely next step to suggest in the meeting and this will inform your follow up.

In my experience, I have found it the most useful to create follow up opportunities during workshops and sessions with stakeholders. This means that they won’t be surprised, and in fact they will be expecting it and waiting for it. Another way that I find really useful is conducting a survey doing a workshop or an engagement session with stakeholders. That also gives opportunities to discuss the outputs from the survey and to highlight a plan of action to act on the feedback received. These are all ways that are not only interactive, but they are also showing leader ship and accountability towards your stakeholders.

Know what you're bringing to the table and what you're asking before you meet. This means you'll also have a clear idea of desired next steps and what potential formats the follow up could take that will ensure ongoing engagement. Based on the engagement temperature and outcomes, you can then allocate the right follow up for the deliverable or next step. It's fluid, but informed by your pre-work.

Different stakeholders require different follow-up approaches. Understanding their communication preferences and follow-up needs through a stakeholder matrix tool can significantly improve the process. In addition, technology can be a powerful ally in streamlining follow-up efforts. Automated solutions, including platforms like SharePoint, can save you time and energy while ensuring consistent communication with your stakeholders.

Strategic Stakeholder Follow-Up: Choosing Wisely Diverse stakeholders call for varied follow-up methods. Opt for email, phone, social media, newsletters, websites, reports, or events based on your audience, purpose, and resources. A large and varied group may benefit from a multi-channel approach like email and social media, while a smaller, focused group may thrive on personal interactions via phone or events. Consider frequency and duration to avoid overwhelming stakeholders. Precision in method selection ensures effective communication without inundating with excessive information or requests.

While considering these factors, embrace a multi-channel approach that aligns with diverse stakeholder preferences. Recognize that stakeholders have varying communication preferences, and offering multiple channels ensures broader reach and engagement. Additionally, consider incorporating feedback loops within your follow-up strategy. Create mechanisms for stakeholders to provide input on the effectiveness of the communication methods used, allowing for continuous improvement and adaptation. By tailoring the follow-up to diverse preferences and actively seeking input, organizations can enhance the effectiveness of their stakeholder engagement efforts, fostering a more inclusive and responsive approach.

Diverse stakeholders demand diverse follow-up methods. Choose from email, phone, social media, newsletters, websites, reports, or events based on your audience, purpose, and resources. For a broad audience, consider a mix like email and social media; for a focused group, opt for personal methods like phone or events. Avoid overwhelming stakeholders by considering frequency and duration. Precise method selection ensures effective communication without inundating them with excessive information or requests.

Certainly, providing value and feedback is crucial. In addition, foster a culture of co-creation in your follow-up. Highlight instances where stakeholder input directly influenced decisions or strategies. If feasible, showcase specific cases where their contributions led to positive outcomes. This approach not only emphasizes the tangible impact of their involvement but also reinforces the notion that stakeholders are true collaborators in the decision-making process. By showcasing the co-creation journey, organizations can deepen the sense of partnership with stakeholders, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and mutual benefit.

Trust is the new social currency. It needs to be earned not given. Hence, I see building relationships as extremely important part of this process.

Para construir relaciones y redes, es necesario identificar en qué conversaciones nuestras partes interesadas están presentes y por consecuencia qué medios y mensajes desean recibir de nuestra parte. Luego de identificadas estas conversaciones requerimos de seleccionar voceros que sean congruente y transparente con lo que se expresa con la finalidad de empezar a generar confianza. Es importante recordemos que la persona es la unidad inicial de cada red y relación por lo que las habilidades interpersonales de los voceros y representantes de las áreas relacionadas con los grupos de interés son vitales para construir relaciones con las partes interesadas.

Indeed, building relationships is key. In addition, consider creating a platform for ongoing dialogue and collaboration beyond specific sustainability initiatives. Establishing a community forum or network where stakeholders can continue to share insights, challenges, and best practices fosters a sustained sense of connection. Encourage peer-to-peer learning and collaboration within this community, creating a space for stakeholders to actively contribute to each other's sustainability journeys.

After a dialogue with a stakeholder, it's crucial to follow up in an effective manner. I begin by expressing appreciation for their time and input during the discussion. Reference key points discussed and outcomes achieved. Use this follow-up as an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the dialogue—ask for feedback on the meeting and whether there are additional concerns or insights to share.

Implementing regular surveys to understand stakeholder perceptions and needs was a critical step in one of my projects. This ongoing feedback mechanism helps in continuously aligning the company’s strategies with stakeholder expectations & evolving sustainability trends. In my work with local communities, providing stakeholders with educational resources & training about sustainability issues proved beneficial. This empowers stakeholders to engage more effectively in future dialogues and decision-making processes. During a multi-sector sustainability forum, I organised networking opportunities for stakeholders. This encourages collaboration and idea sharing among different groups, leading to more innovative and comprehensive solutions.