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Agile stakeholder management: the complete explanation

In many of our articles we like to go in depth or share great insights from successful cases. For example, I previously gave 5 tips for when you are working on Stakeholder Management as a Product Owner. Inspiring if you already know a bit about Agile working or are working hard on the Agile road. But many people still often ask us about the meaning of specific Agile terms. Therefore, in this article I will explain what Agile Stakeholder Management is, using 4 guidelines. Are you already applying them in your Agile projects?

First of all, we can say that Agile Stakeholder Management is really a crucial part of the success of Agile projects. Why? Because, of course, Agile Stakeholder Management is about involving stakeholders in the project. One way you do that is by wanting to understand their needs and expectations. You also focus on communicating effectively with your stakeholders to ensure that the project stays on track and ultimately adds real value. This may sound logical, yet in many projects this does not happen automatically. The following 4 guidelines will help you take the step towards good Agile Stakeholder management.

Don’t treat everyone equally

Sounds crazy, but true in this case. An important aspect of Agile Stakeholder Management is involving all stakeholders in the project. For example, you do this by inviting stakeholders to Sprint Reviews, where you discuss the project’s progress and provide space for feedback. It is also important to involve stakeholders in the Backlog Refinement so that the Product Owner better understands which features and capabilities are prioritized. But here goes: don’t treat everyone equally. Map out your stakeholders in an orderly fashion first and then tailor your communication for each stakeholder. It may pay off to involve one stakeholder very closely and inform the other stakeholder by newsletter. Each stakeholder needs its own needs and approach.

Communication is key in Agile Stakeholder Management

Effective communication is an important part of Agile Stakeholder management. So communicate regularly with stakeholders about the project’s progress, provide space for feedback and incorporate it where appropriate. In this way, the Product Owner can ensure that the project meets stakeholder expectations. Last but not least: that the project actually adds value. The Product Owner manages the stakeholders and thus keeps them informed of current developments. For the stakeholders, the team’s developments can thus never really be a surprise anymore.

Set clear goals and repeat them over and over again

Another aspect of Agile Stakeholder Management is defining clear goals and objectives. By setting clear goals and objectives, the Product Owner can ensure that the project remains focused on delivering value to stakeholders. This helps prioritize the Backlog and make decisions about which (parts of) products or services to develop. A tip: repeat those goals over and over again. As logical as it may make sense to you, it often doesn’t to stakeholders. Hook them up. The power is in the repetition. Hook them on.

Get into the skin of your stakeholder

Finally, it is important to adapt the project’s approach to the specific needs of the stakeholders. By considering the unique needs of each stakeholder, the Product Owner ensures that the project meets their needs. For example, one way to get into the skin of your customer is to create personas. Do this for each stakeholder separately. This is because then you can also tailor to that target group or persona much better. Yes, you may divide stakeholders into groups. But sometimes it becomes stronger when you can name and number.

All in all, Agile Stakeholder management is a crucial part of the success of Agile projects. By engaging stakeholders, communicating effectively, defining clear goals and objectives, and adapting the approach to the specific needs of the stakeholders, the Product Owner ensures that the project adds value for all stakeholders.