When clients enlist the support of our team at Launch by NTT DATA, we’re brought on to be more than just external experts; we are partners and honest challengers tasked with driving the business forward. But interestingly, this dynamic isn't exclusive to external consultants like us. In-house product teams face similar challenges.
Whether you're tasked with leading a product, engineering, or design team, you have your own set of "clients"—your stakeholders, executives, peers, and end-users. These internal relationships are just as crucial as external ones, and the trust and collaboration that exists within these relationships can significantly impact the success or failure of a project.
On this episode of Catalyst, Chris and Gina share the dos and don'ts of stakeholder engagement so you can create an open dialogue to better support your stakeholders’ priorities. Check out the highlights below, then dive into the full episode to learn more.
Tell the truth
Overpromising and under-delivering doesn’t benefit anyone. If you know a project will take eight months to deliver, don’t promise to do it in four. Your stakeholders would rather you be honest and realistic than try to wow them with big promises you can’t deliver. Of course, not every setback will be your fault. Some projects will inevitably be held up by approvals or other processes. When this happens, don’t point the finger or accuse, but don’t ignore the cause. Keeping all parties accountable not only keeps projects on track, but also builds trust and reliability.
Use your retrospectives wisely
Another way to keep on track is to check in with your stakeholders along the way. But rather than using retros to recap, position them as an opportunity to learn and course correct. Turn the issues discussed in that retrospective into action items. Doing so demonstrates that you are approaching the project thoughtfully and carefully.
Balance maintenance and growth
Most businesses face a dilemma: do you protect the base and focus on maintaining your existing offering, or do you grow? It’s a healthy tension to have and can drive the business into new operational territory. To navigate this successfully, be smart about how you allocate teams and resources, maintain transparency and communication, and make sure everyone is on the same page about why the product you’re building is important.
As always, don’t forget to subscribe to Catalyst wherever you get your podcasts. We release a new episode every Tuesday, jam-packed with expert advice and actionable insights for creating digital experiences that move millions.
