Chapter 10: Stakeholders – Who they are and how to make sure they are on your side

Projects live or die by relationships, so you need to get stakeholders on your side. There are no “A***holes” in business, only people with different experiences, capabilities, stresses and styles than me (some of whom may appear to be a bit A***holish, even quite a lot of the time) — everyone has their reasons. Assume good intent and see the world from each stakeholder’s perspective (even the frustrating ones). Figure out who really has a stake in your project and then think about different ways to communicate, handle conflict, and turn difficult people into collaborators. Mastering this human element transforms stakeholder management from a headache into the heart of project leadership—because when people are with you, even big challenges get easier.