At every level in the project, stakeholders have the possibility to influence other stakeholders. This could be a positive or a negative influence. One thing is for sure; the greater potential influence of the stakeholder in question, the bigger risk there is to the deliverables and final goals of your project.

This is why it is so important to choose stakeholders with care. You need to conduct stakeholder analysis so you can realise a number of benefits. This includes providing the best possible project outcomes, having key and relevant stakeholders involved from the start to the end of the project, lowering unnecessary risks, making sure that positive influence exists between stakeholders, and keeping focus on stakeholders’ needs.

So, how do you find the right stakeholders?

Firstly, it is important to recognise that most stakeholders will fall into one of three categories. These are external stakeholders, indirect internal stakeholders, and direct internal stakeholders. These stakeholders can range from project sponsors that are engaged directly in project activities to project team members. They could also be those who are using the end service or product, government bodies, external customers, and so on.

As a project manager, it is important that you ask all of the necessary questions about stakeholders early in the process. Make sure that all of the stakeholders that have been identified are relevant to the project you are working on. Don’t dive in headfirst.

You also need to give yourself enough time for stakeholder mapping and analysis. Weigh up each stakeholder’s anticipated contributions, as well as the influence they will have on different areas of the project and the anticipated final results. What would happen if the stakeholder could not contribute to the level needed? A stakeholder may have the skill and knowledge level, but there could be another reason why they cannot commit. In this case, you may need to look to an alternative.

Aside from this, you need to develop and use the best methodology for the specific situation or project. Many mapping and analysis methodologies have been used over the years. Some are based on the potential for the stakeholder to be a threat or an asset. Others focus on the requirements of the project in relation to the stakeholders. Others look at key areas of performance, value within hierarchies, and the ability to influence others.

Finally, when choosing stakeholders for your project, learn from your mistakes, as well as the errors made by other project managers. You should never try to reinvent the wheel. Talk with other project leaders about the lessons they learned, what worked well, what didn’t, and what methods and strategies they used.

Stakeholders can make or break a project, and so it is vital to choose with care. Use the tips mentioned above to ensure you identify the right stakeholders for your project.