What is the Stakeholder Engagement Matrix?

Career pivot; New perspective: Real Madrid's factor; Why Failure Is A Necessary Part Of The Innovation Process?

Jul 20, 2024

Read on LinkedIn / Read time: 5 minutes

Welcome to The Agie Admiral weekly newsletter where I provide actionable ideas to help you build a high-performing Project Management career

Today at a Glance:

🎰 What is the Stakeholder Engagement Matrix?

💰 Treat your project management career pivot like a project

🔑 Why Failure Is A Necessary Part Of The Innovation Process?

☝️ New perspective: Real Madrid's Champions League Triumph

☂️ Growth Tips

What is the Stakeholder Engagement Matrix?

A stakeholders engagement assessment matrix is a model which a project manager uses to judge stakeholders’ current level of engagement with a project.

Stakeholders can be categorized in 5 different ways:

-> Unaware. In this first level, stakeholders are unaware of the project and any potential impacts its outcome may have on them.

-> Resistant. Stakeholders in this category are aware of the project and are resistant to the change.

-> Neutral. Neutral stakeholders are aware of the project but are neither resistant to or supportive of it.

-> Supportive. These stakeholders are aware of the project and its potential impact and are supportive of the change.

-> Leading. Stakeholders in this category are aware of the project and are actively working to ensure its success. These stakeholders may be termed ‘change champions.’

As well as defining the current level of engagement, the matrix can also be used to inform a discussion about the desired engagement level of each stakeholder or stakeholder group.

What are the benefits of a stakeholders engagement assessment matrix?

Grow project support
By identifying those stakeholders who are broadly supportive of — or actively championing — the project, the team can target communications to ensure their continued support.

Build awareness and engagement
Surprising people with an unwanted or difficult change is one of the quickest ways to negatively impact the likelihood of project success.
People like to be kept in the loop with what’s happening and given a chance to engage with and provide feedback on the changes.
By identifying those stakeholders who appear to be unaware of the project, the team can build an effective communications management plan focused on increasing their awareness and engagement.

source: LinkedIn

Treat your project management career pivot like a project.

Are you NEW in Project Management?

If you're an aspiring PM, you already know the basics.

Now, apply them in real-time.

1. Gather requirements - job descriptions, upskilling, research, etc.
2. Develop high-level scope, goals, metrics, stakeholders
3. Prepare your documentation and plans
4. Execute
5. Document, document, document
6. Monitor and control for change/risks
7. Regularly review metrics and pivot when needed
8. Close when you've started the new job - don't forget the retrospective

Career pivots are a goal.
And a goal is easier with a plan.
So make one and then execute it.

Link to his profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loganlangin/

Real Madrid's Champions League Triumph: High-Performing Teams Lessons for Modern Project Managers

On June 1, 2024, Real Madrid again etched their name in the annals of football history by securing their 15th European Cup title with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium. While this victory is a testament to Real Madrid's football prowess, it also serves as a masterclass in high-performing team dynamics, from which modern project managers can extract valuable learnings to transform their projects into successful ventures.

The Anatomy of a High-Performing Team

A high-performing team is characterized by several key attributes, which Real Madrid and all successful sports teams exemplify, from the organization's top down to the players on the field.

Leadership and Purpose: At the helm of Real Madrid is President Florentino Pérez, whose vision and strategic decisions have been pivotal in shaping the club's success. His leadership ensures that the club's goals are clear and aligned with its long-term purpose.
Strategic Management: Coach Carlo Ancelotti, who secured his fifth Champions League title with this victory, embodies the role of a strategic manager. Ancelotti's ability to adapt tactics, manage player rotations, and maintain high morale is crucial.
Skilled and Committed Team Members: All the players, including Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric, Thibaut Courtois, Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior, demonstrate exceptional skill and commitment. Their performance on the field results from rigorous training, precise role definitions, and a deep understanding of their responsibilities.
Building a Strong Team Spirit: Real Madrid's success is also a result of their strong team spirit. This is evident in their on-field chemistry and off-field camaraderie. The players trust each other, communicate openly, and hold each other accountable.

Continue reading the Article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/128-real-madrids-champions-league-triumph-teams-nieto-rodriguez-s42uf/

Why Failure Is A Necessary Part Of The Innovation Process?

Innovation is about trying new things and taking risks, which inevitably involves mistakes.

However, many organizations want to embrace their innovative spirit but fear the consequences of failure.

How to encourage innovation?

1. Set up an environment that encourages new ideas.

2. Test ideas with the anticipation of failure.

3. Use consistent methodologies when producing prototypes and tangible artifacts.

The notion that failure is a part of the innovation process doesn't mean that you should expect every idea to fail; rather, it means you should be prepared for failure and use it to your advantage.

The sooner you can embrace failure as part of the innovation process, the sooner you will be able to take risks and move forward with your ideas.

Thank you Roberto Ferraro the visuals.