Navigating the Tricky Waters of Stakeholder Relationships: 5 Unusual Approaches Every General Manager Should Consider
Life as a general manager is akin to sailing a ship through treacherous waters — unpredictable, challenging, but with the potential for immense rewards. Plugging leaks and ensuring everyone is rowing in the same direction is the part and parcel of a general manager's role.
But that's not where it ends. Managing stakeholder relationships is a vital, yet often undervalued aspect of this job. And we're about to take a dive into uncharted territories to unravel unique approaches in stakeholder relationship management. So make sure your life jacket is on – it's going to be a thrilling ride!
1. Unleash the Power of Empathy
Empathy, in this context, does not involve sharing a box of tissues with your stakeholders during a particularly heart-wrenching movie scene. Instead, it's about seeing things from their perspective. Understanding their needs, concerns, and viewpoints helps create an environment of trust and mutual respect.
2. Silence Can Be Golden: The Power of Listening
'Talk less, listen more' – it's simple, yet profound advice often forgotten amidst the noise. Effective stakeholder management demands receptive ears to their inputs and feedback, making them feel heard and valued. Keep those chatterbox tendencies at bay, put on your listening hat, and watch how the dynamic changes.
Remember, at the end of the day, everyone loves a good listener!
3. Resist the Urge to 'Fix' Everything
As a general manager, the immediate instinct is to offer a solution, correct a misstep, or 'fix' problems. However, when it comes to stakeholder relationships, sometimes it’s important to resist this instinct. Some issues can't be resolved with a quick fix and require time and space to improve. Embrace patience and let the 'letting go' strategy work its magic.
4. Keep Communication Clear and Consistent
Ever played 'Chinese Whispers'? A simple message can often turn into something unrecognizable just because of inconsistent communication. Tackle this issue by ensuring open, consistent, and clear communication with stakeholders to keep misunderstandings at bay.
5. Foster Collaboration Over Competition
Creating a collaborative environment helps foster better understanding and trust amongst stakeholders. Instead of promoting a competitive atmosphere, encourage cooperative behavior. In the bargain, complex issues may become easier to resolve.
Wrapping Up
The road to managing stakeholder relationships can be as unpredictable as a British summer (rumor has it, all four seasons can occur in a day!). But with these unusual approaches, you should be better equipped to navigate tricky terrains with relative ease.
And always remember to keep your sense of humor intact, a good laugh can often diffuse even the tensest situations!
References:
Stakeholder Management: The Societal Impact of Stakeholder Relationship Orientation, Daniel Mätzler et al, 2018
Redefining Stakeholder Engagement: From Control to Collaboration, Journal of Corporate Citizenship, Sarah Roberts, 2003
