Dreading project update meetings with tough stakeholders? Career coach John St. John shares powerful strategies to transform those relationships in our latest blog.
Remember your last challenging stakeholder conversation? That moment when you had to explain why a critical deliverable was at risk, and you could feel the tension rising? For many project managers, these moments define the difference between career growth and stagnation.
When project managers hit a career plateau, many turn to John St. John for guidance. As a PM career coach with a track record of helping leaders break through communication barriers, St. John has developed clear strategies for transforming challenging stakeholder relationships into career opportunities.
The biggest stumbling block for otherwise capable PMs? "Being reactive instead of proactive is a common leadership blindspot," St. John explains. "Proactive PMs anticipate issues, communicate early, and plan strategically, leading to smoother projects and stronger stakeholder relationships."
This proactive approach isn't just about sending more updates – it's about strategic messaging. As St. John emphasizes, "Knowing what to say, to whom, when, and how" consistently separates PMs who advance from those who stagnate.
Before your next stakeholder meeting, map out potential concerns and prepare your messaging strategy for each scenario.
St. John's DIESCE framework (Describe-Express-Inquire-Specify-Consequences-Encourage) provides a structured approach to difficult conversations. He witnessed its impact firsthand during a challenging SaaS implementation.
"The DIESCE framework transformed a challenging relationship when a PM proactively addressed missing data feeds," St. John shares. "By clarifying issues, exploring options, and negotiating fairly, they turned a potential crisis into a collaborative solution."
The framework breaks down complex conversations into manageable steps:
Practice using the DIESCE framework for your next difficult conversation, writing out each component beforehand.
Creating an environment where team members feel safe sharing concerns is crucial. "As leaders, it is imperative that we provide our team members with a psychologically safe, structured, and respectful environment when things don't go as planned," St. John notes. "We need to help them gain clarity on the way forward."
This approach helps turn potential conflicts into opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Start team meetings by explicitly inviting different perspectives and acknowledging potential concerns.
The best strategic communicators understand that every interaction, whether solving a problem or sharing success, shapes their stakeholder relationships. "Happy employees are often the most productive and effective team members," St. John emphasizes. He recommends concrete steps for showing appreciation:
Start each week by identifying one specific contribution to recognize from each team member.
Successful strategic leaders separate themselves by consistently executing these practices, not just understanding them. Start small: choose one challenging relationship and apply the DIESCE framework. Build your proactive communication muscle by planning stakeholder interactions instead of just reacting to them. Add structured appreciation into your weekly routine.
Remember, as St. John emphasizes, it's not just what you communicate, but how and when you do it that makes the difference between managing projects and leading them.
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