Step 1: Define who your stakeholders are

What is it?

Individuals or groups with a vested interest in the workshop’s outcomes, including organizers, sponsors and potentially impacted parties (participants have a different section).

Why do I need it?

Identifying stakeholders helps ensure the workshop meets the needs of those who have a stake in its success, aligns with organisational goals, and secures necessary support and resources.

Example

For an Innovation Workshop, you might have the following stakeholders:
Internal—product management team, R&D department, marketing team. External (if applicable)—key clients for feedback, industry experts for insights.

Rationale: Engaging diverse internal stakeholders ensures alignment with organisational capabilities and market strategies, while external stakeholders can provide critical real-world insights that ensure relevance and feasibility.

Let’s get curious about the stakeholders 👇

Main questions

• Who are they?
• What are their expectations?
• How are we going to work together?

Key Considerations

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Clarity of roles:

• Who pays? Understanding who funds the workshop can influence many aspects, from content to participant selection.
• Who benefits? Identify all parties that stand to gain from the workshop outcomes, which may include direct participants and others within the organisation.
• Who is the sponsor? Identifying the sponsor will help in understanding the level of support and resources available.
• Who makes the final decision? Knowing who has the final say can guide how the workshop is tailored to meet key expectations. </aside>

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Engagement and buy-in:

• Senior level buy-in: Ensure that senior leaders encourage participation. Their support can significantly affect participant engagement levels.
• Are they aligned? Check if all stakeholders have a unified vision regarding the workshop’s goals and outcomes.
• Are they going to be allies during the workshop? Allies can help drive home the importance of the workshop and aid in implementing the outcomes. </aside>

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Expectations and communication

What milestones/benchmarks/risks do they expect to be informed of? Understanding these expectations can help tailor the communication strategy both before and after the workshop, ensuring stakeholders are kept informed and engaged.

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Some how to’s:

(click dropdown to reveal)

Identify Stakeholders:

Understand Stakeholder Perspectives

Continuous engagement and alignment