BoSUSA24 | Bruce McCarthy and Melissa Appel | Live Stakeholder Troubleshooting

You can have the perfect product with the perfect strategy… and still fail because your internal stakeholders don’t understand, don’t buy in and aren’t aligned. Companies fail because their leaders can’t agree on a direction.

Alignment is the key that unlocks product, company, and career success, but it’s not easy. Bruce and Melissa have spent decades learning from their mistakes and the mistakes of others, and they will share their hard-won tips and techniques with you at BoS USA. They will share a proven framework for stakeholder management and then coach audience members through some of their toughest stakeholder challenges, live and unscripted on stage.

1. LIVE STAKEHOLDER TROUBLESHOOTING

2. “ It’s about leading your team to achieve something great together ” Why this book?

3. Tell me about your role. What does success look like for you and your team? What’s challenging about meeting these goals? What are you doing to try to meet these challenges? What’s top-of-mind for you right now? Who else should I be talking to? Stakeholder interview s are like cu stomer interviews

4. PARTICIPATIVE One person decides but actively seeks input from stakeholders. Everyone is expected to debate and commit. CONSENSUS Everyone must agree before a decision is final. Often there is extensive discussion and debate. DEMOCRATIC The group gathers information and then votes. Everyone is expected to accept the majority decision. DIRECTIVE A few people decide and inform others. Everyone is expected to get on board. Decision styles

5. The DACI framework

6. Individual Decision Styles CONSENSUS Everyone must agree before a decision is final. Often there is extensive discussion and debate. DEMOCRATIC The group gathers information and then votes. Everyone is expected to accept the majority decision. Cost of Delay How long can this wait until we need to work on it and what is the impact in the meantime? Dominance Wants a quick answer to act on right away Provide options Remind them that group decisions are executed faster Steadiness Wants what’s best for everyone Let everyone speak up Remind them that you can’t please everyone 100% Influence Wants to do the right thing Talk up the vision Remind them that big things happen in practical steps Conscientiousness Wants the optimal answer Provide data, assess risks Remind them there is no perfect answer

7. Mining for Conflict

8. MINE FOR CONFLICT Open with a Bad Idea Fist of Five If/Thens Challenge Round Ask an Outsider Ask for Commitment

9. Sign up for Today’s slides Aligned bonus content Book Raffle