Engaging Stakeholders in Agile Strategy Planning

How I turned chaos into collaboration. All by asking the right questions. Stakeholder engagement isn’t easy. I once worked with a stakeholder who didn’t trust her team. She believed control was the only way to get results. Her working style caused chaos: → She would agree one day. → And, change her mind the next. The team was frustrated. → Deadlines were slipping. → Team morale was dropping. And I needed to fix this issue. Here’s how I shifted her mindset and got her to trust the process: 1. I asked, “What’s your biggest worry?” → I genuinely listened to her concerns. → I realized her constant changes came from fear of failure. 2. I asked, "How can we stick to a plan?" → I shared a roadmap with defined milestones and explained the impact of last-minute changes. → She agreed to revisit decisions only during weekly reviews. 3. I asked, " Can you take ownership here?". → I assigned her specific deliverables to oversee. → Sharing regular updates reduced her doubts. 4. I asked, "What type of data will build your trust?" → Every week, I showed progress with data. → She saw the team could deliver. The result? → No more frantic emails. → No last-minute changes. → She trusted the team and the plan. Takeaways: 1. Listen to your stakeholders’ concerns. 2. Set clear boundaries. 3. Give ownership so they can drive without control. 4. Build you trust by consistently supporting them. In just three weeks, I turned chaos into collaboration. This wasn’t just a win for the project it transformed how we worked together.   So, I always say, you don’t manage stakeholders; you engage them. Ask questions → Set boundaries → Build trust. PS: What’s your story of turning a difficult stakeholders around?

Why 73% of Projects Fail and How I Stopped Losing Stakeholder Support Let me tell you a quick story. Years ago, I was leading an ops overhaul that was supposed to streamline internal reporting. Everything looked good on paper, timelines, budget, resource allocation. I checked every box… Except one: I didn’t fully engage the stakeholders who would actually use the system every day. 🚨Big mistake. Within 3 weeks of launch, adoption lagged, teams worked around it, and leadership questioned the ROI. That’s when it hit me—involvement doesn’t equal alignment. Just because stakeholders are informed doesn’t mean they’re invested. So I changed my approach. Here’s what I did: • Identified key influencers across departments, not just top execs, but daily users and frontline managers. • Used long-form discovery sessions to understand their actual pain points (not just the ones listed on a dashboard). • Built a feedback loop into every sprint cycle. Small changes. Real-time validation. • Created internal linkages between project goals and departmental KPIs (this one’s huge). The result? 🎯 41% faster implementation. ✅ 3X higher adoption in the first 30 days. 💬 Consistent stakeholder engagement from kickoff to post-launch. Why does this matter for you? If you’re a project manager, ops lead, or department head, especially in finance, tech, or healthcare, here’s your reality: 📌 You’re juggling timelines, compliance, and team bandwidth. 📌 You’re expected to “drive transformation” and still “not disrupt the day-to-day.” 📌 You’re measured by results but those results start with buy-in. So ask yourself: Are you just updating stakeholders or are you empowering them to shape outcomes? That’s the difference between a delivered project and a sustained solution. If you’re tired of rework, delays, or lukewarm adoption, start by rethinking how you engage your stakeholders. Involve early. Involve meaningfully. Involve often. ✅ Start with a 30-minute alignment session before you build your next project charter. ✅ Don’t just collect feedback—co-create the solution with the people who live it. You’ll thank yourself later. Let’s stop managing projects and start leading with people who matter. #ProjectManagement #StakeholderEngagement #LeadershipInAction

Struggling to get everyone on board? Some clients complain that they feel like they are hearding cats. I remember leading projects like this and was frustrated until I learned a better way. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieve stakeholder buy-in: 1. Gather Perspectives → Why it works: Provides a complete view of stakeholder positions. ↳ Action: Ask each stakeholder about their understanding of project goals, benefits, and concerns. 2. Identify Misalignments → Why it works: Pinpoints areas needing attention. ↳ Action: List key differences in a shared document, analyzing root causes and impacts. 3. Plan Actions → Why it works: Creates a roadmap for resolution. ↳ Action: Develop specific steps to improve alignment, assigning owners and deadlines. 4. Implement Strategies → Why it works: Addresses concerns systematically. ↳ Action: Adjust project elements as needed and enhance communication to meet stakeholder needs. By following these steps, you'll turn potential roadblocks into a path to project success. — P.S. Unlock 20 years' worth of leadership lessons sent straight to your inbox. Every Wednesday, I share exclusive insights and actionable tips on my newsletter. (Link in my bio to sign up). Remember, leaders succeed together.

Getting stakeholders to show up and stay engaged during Sprint Reviews can be a real challenge. But the Sprint Review is more than just a demo; it's your chance to gather feedback, validate direction, and build trust. If your reviews feel more like a monologue than a collaboration, Here are 8 practical ways to change that: Choose the Right Time & Day ↳ Avoid Monday mornings and peak meeting times. ↳ A time change alone can boost attendance and energy. Keep It Engaging ↳ Focus on high-impact features, not every minor bug fix. ↳ Only show low-priority items if stakeholders ask. Control the Discussion Flow ↳ Keep conversations focused and on-topic. ↳ Redirect deep dives to follow-up discussions outside the review. Let Stakeholders Participate Actively ↳ Invite them to test new features live during the review. ↳ This boosts ownership, engagement, and trust. Communicate the Purpose Clearly ↳ Share an agenda a day before the review. ↳ Outline Sprint goals, key demos, and decisions needed. Respect Stakeholders’ Time ↳ Not all stakeholders need to attend every review. ↳ Let them know when their input is optional. Encourage Conversations, Not Just Presentations ↳ Ask for feedback right after showcasing a feature. ↳ Engage senior stakeholders first to encourage others to speak up. Show That Feedback Matters ↳ Implement valuable suggestions quickly. ↳ Highlight changes based on past stakeholder feedback. When Sprint Reviews become interactive, focused, and valuable, stakeholders stop skipping them and start looking forward to them. What’s one thing you’ve done that actually got your stakeholders more involved in Sprint Reviews? Drop your experience or tip in the comments. ♻️ Repost to help others standout in their agile journey. ➕ Follow Dr. Francis Mbunya for more.