You're navigating senior stakeholder preferences. How can you tailor your communication style effectively?

Firstly understand your stakeholders and their priority areas Create a narrative that resonates with the company's objectives Align your stakeholders to the narrative

The time spent to research your stakeholder's motivations based on their professional role, priorities and experience as well as their personal motivations and preferences pays off well in establishing their preferred communication style. It also helps to spend some time in the initial phase of your interactions to build the relationship and understand these nuances before jumping right into task-led interactions.

Effective communication with senior stakeholders hinges on understanding their unique needs and preferences. By investing time to discern these nuances through past interactions and insights, one can tailor communication strategies accordingly. For analytically minded stakeholders, data-driven insights are crucial, while strategic thinkers benefit from concise, high-level summaries. Proactive engagement and anticipating concerns further enhance credibility and trust. This personalized approach ensures that communication becomes a strategic tool for alignment and achieving organizational goals.

When you are unsure, it is always safer with senior stakeholders to start with a concise presentation/ communication and build out the detail in the Appendix, a supplemental document or the voiceover for the page. Based on the questions asked in the meeting, feedback you receive and a better understanding of their communication style that you will develop over a period of time, you can adapt the content for future discussions.

Adapting communication styles to senior stakeholders is crucial for effective engagement. Understanding preferences through attentive listening and observation is key. Some prefer concise, action-oriented communication, while others value detailed explanations and discussion. By interpreting verbal and non-verbal cues, one can tailor messages effectively, demonstrating respect for their time and enhancing receptivity. Anticipating needs and addressing concerns proactively builds credibility and fosters collaborative relationships, transforming communication into a strategic tool for organizational alignment and success.

Observe how other colleagues communicate with the same stakeholders and pay attention to the stakeholders' reactions. What do they react to most positively? Which meetings and discussions seem to go effortlessly? Over time, you will realise: 1. What type of communication they prefer (verbal, written, visual)? 2. What style of communication they respond best to (formal, informal, assertive, etc.)? 3. What materials they react to best (summary email before the meeting, longer detailed email with a summary on top, a detailed memo, PowerPoint, data tables, and/or graphs)? 4. What communication frequency they expect? Aim to adjust your communication style accordingly over time.

Effective communication with senior stakeholders hinges on clarity and precision. To convey information effectively, focus your message with a clear purpose and outcome. Avoid overwhelming with unnecessary detail; instead, prioritize critical information in a structured manner. Outline the problem, propose solutions, and highlight benefits logically. This approach ensures stakeholders grasp relevance swiftly, facilitating informed decisions aligned with organizational goals.

Early in my career, I discovered the profound impact of building rapport with senior stakeholders. During a pivotal meeting with a seasoned executive, I seized a moment to inquire about their recent travels to a destination we had both visited. This sparked a genuine conversation that went beyond business, allowing us to connect on a personal level. By demonstrating sincere interest in their experiences and remembering details from previous conversations, I established a foundation of trust and mutual respect. Our shared connection enabled me to approach sensitive topics with empathy and tact, ensuring my messages were not only understood but also considered with goodwill.

Providing options is important to support problem solving and decision making. Options adds a dimension for senior stakeholders to understand the problem and decision to be made. Consider providing a "recommended" option that has been weighted and pre-aligned with executing teams.

After every meeting with senior stakeholders, I find it important to summarise in an email the 1. "Key takeaways" of what was discussed, aligned and/or decided in the meeting, and 2. "Next steps" of follow up actions before the next senior stakeholders meeting. This provides continuity and sets clear expectations of outcomes for the next senior stakeholders meeting. It can also serve as a memo to communicate and drive further actions with parties not present in the meeting.