Elizabeth Harrin’s Engaging Stakeholders on Projects is a practical guide for project professionals on how to effectively engage stakeholders to ensure project success. The book builds upon the principles of the APM Body of Knowledge (7th edition) and provides actionable tools, techniques, and strategies for improving stakeholder relationships.
Key Themes and Concepts
- Understanding Stakeholder Engagement
Harrin explains that stakeholder engagement is more than just communication—it involves actively involving stakeholders in decision-making and ensuring their needs are addressed. She discusses what effective engagement looks like and how it contributes to project success.
- Tools and Techniques for Engagement
The book introduces various tools available to project managers, including stakeholder mapping, influence grids, and feedback loops. These tools help in identifying key stakeholders, understanding their interests, and determining the best ways to involve them in projects.
- Managing Resistance and Conflict
Resistance to change is common in project-driven environments. Harrin provides strategies to minimise conflict and overcome resistance through proactive engagement, transparent communication, and conflict resolution techniques.
- Customising Engagement Approaches
Different stakeholders require different engagement strategies. The book offers insights on tailoring communication and engagement approaches based on stakeholder influence, interest, and attitude toward the project.
- Project Management Best Practices
The book aligns stakeholder engagement with broader project management practices, ensuring that engagement efforts contribute to overall project efficiency, risk management, and successful change implementation.
This book is particularly useful for project managers, program managers, and business leaders responsible for stakeholder management. It provides guidance for professionals working at project, program, or portfolio levels in any industry dealing with organisational change.
By focusing on practical, real-world advice, Harrin helps project professionals improve their stakeholder engagement skills, making their projects more likely to succeed.
The key takeaways from this book
1. Stakeholder Engagement is Proactive, Not Reactive
- Successful engagement requires early and continuous interaction with stakeholders.
- Waiting until issues arise can lead to resistance, conflicts, and project delays
2. Use the Right Tools to Map and Prioritise Stakeholders
- Harrin introduces tools like stakeholder mapping and influence grids to help project managers identify key players.
- Understanding stakeholders' levels of power and interest allows for tailored engagement strategies.
3. Effective Communication Reduces Conflict and Resistance
- Stakeholders often resist change due to uncertainty. Transparent communication helps minimise this resistance.
- Techniques such as active listening, clear messaging, and regular updates build trust.
4. One-Size-Fits-All Approaches Don’t Work
- Different stakeholders have different needs, expectations, and preferred communication styles.
- Adapting engagement strategies based on stakeholder personalities and roles improves buy-in and project success.
5. Engagement is a Continuous Effort
- Stakeholder needs evolve throughout the project lifecycle, so engagement strategies must be adjusted accordingly.
- Regular feedback loops ensure that concerns are addressed and support is maintained.
