Mastering stakeholder management as a Product Manager

If you are a Product Manager, you probably need to master this skill. And it’s no other than stakeholder management.

Managing stakeholders is no joke, especially when you are a Product Manager who has to collaborate with various stakeholders in all levels of a company.

Conflict is not just a possibility for a Product Manager; it's a certainty. But conflict can also become a powerful tool for innovation and a stronger product strategy.

The key point is that you should not see conflict as a win-lose situation, but rather as an opportunity to work as a team and drive growth through collaborative problem-solving.

But how can you do that?

Well by using the "Behavioral Change Stairway Model" of course! The "Behavioral Change Stairway Model" is a framework that can help you navigate the process and understand the psychology behind it.

The 5 steps of the "Behavioral Change Stairway Model" are:

✅ Active Listening: Genuinely listen to the stakeholder’s point of view
✅ Empathize: Try to understand their motives and concerns
✅ Build Rapport: Find common ground and establish a connection with them
✅ Influence: Leverage the connection you built with them to influence their perspective, and stir them towards effective solutions
✅ Encourage Behavioral Change: Motivate them to adopt an attitude that aligns with both the product's goals and the requirements of all stakeholders

Implementing this model in product management can help you turn potential conflicts into opportunities, and ultimately, foster an environment where collaboration will lead to the discovery of innovative solutions that will benefit both the product and all stakeholders.