Skills Needed to Effectively Engage Stakeholders

In order to effectively engage stakeholders, and to keep them engaged, the following skills are essential for project managers to have:

• Ability to build relationships with others
• Understanding the perspective of stakeholders – their concerns and challenges about the project
• Interviewing skills to understand the needs and wants of stakeholders
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Listening skills
• People-oriented – truly caring about the stakeholders and their needs, concerns and wants
• The ability to motivate and engage others through influencing and persuading them (this requires strong relationships with others)
• The ability to build trust (again, this requires strong relationships with others)
• Patience to bring along those stakeholders who may be more difficult to engage and persuade
• High emotional intelligence

Consider the projects you have managed, what other skills or knowledge have you used to engage stakeholders and keep them engaged in the project?