The Visual Agile Coach Stakeholder Decoder

Decode Stakeholder relationships with power, influence and interest.

The Visual Agile Coach Stakeholder Decoder starts with the Power Influence Matrix – then overlays Interest.

• Power: the ability to influence and direct = Decision Maker

• Influence: Hard = authority, Soft = powers of persuasion

• Interest: the likelihood of wielding power and influence

How to Use

1. Identify your stakeholders and position them within the Power and Influence matrix

2. Now consider their level of Interest – high, low or somewhere in between?

3. Consider the pros and cons of too much versus too little interest and tailor your Stakeholder Management approach accordingly.

Tip: Check your assessment of your Stakeholder’s position in the Power Influence Matrix and their level of Interest with others – you may have bias – why not check with the Stakeholder themself?

Stakeholder management is multi-dimensional – decode with the 3 dimensions of Power, Influence and Interest for actionable insights.

Visual Agile Coaching Tips

• Individual stakeholders will always have individual needs - stakeholder management is multi-dimensional always try to put yourself in your stakeholders’ shoes

• Don’t just look upwards for Stakeholders. They can also be found sideways, downwards and outside of your organisation.  

• Don’t over complicate Stakeholder Management, in simple terms it is about bringing the right people together to achieve the best outcome.

References:

The Mendelow stakeholder matrix was created in 1991 by Aubrey L. Mendelow

Eden and Ackermann (1998) similarly combined Power, Influence and Interest. 

This tool and many more are available in the Visual Agile Coach Playbook available from online bookshops and at Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visual-Agile-Coach-Playbook-communication/dp/1780176619