Beyond the Stakeholder Map – how to identify and mobilise the people who matter

Most organisations know who their stakeholders are. They create lists, assess power and interest, and develop communication or engagement plans.

But traditional stakeholder mapping can miss an important question: Who really influences the outcome – and how are those people connected?

This free 60-minute online masterclass introduces a more strategic approach to stakeholder engagement. It explores how relationships, informal influence, trust and networks can shape outcomes, and how leaders can identify the people who can help build support, connect groups and mobilise action.

What You’ll Learn

In this session, you will explore:

• why traditional stakeholder maps can provide only part of the picture
• how to start stakeholder analysis with the outcome you are trying to achieve
• the difference between formal authority and practical influence
• how stakeholders influence one another through relationships and networks
• how to identify trusted advisers, connectors, gatekeepers and mobilisers
• why missing or weak relationships can matter as much as existing ones
• how to move from communicating with stakeholders to actively engaging and mobilising them
• how stronger stakeholder insight can improve strategic decisions and implementation.

Who Should Attend

This masterclass is designed for executives, senior leaders, strategy and transformation professionals, stakeholder and engagement leaders, policy professionals, program and project leaders, and anyone responsible for complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.

It is particularly relevant to organisations working across government, health, infrastructure, energy, universities and research, industry, technology and social-purpose environments.

Why Attend

Stakeholder engagement is often approached as a communication challenge: Who do we need to inform, consult or engage?

For complex strategic challenges, leaders also need to understand: Who influences whom? Who is trusted? Which relationships matter most? And who can help mobilise wider support?

Looking beyond the traditional stakeholder map can reveal sources of influence and opportunities that formal structures alone may not show.

This session provides a practical introduction to understanding stakeholder networks and using that insight to improve engagement and strategic influence.

If these ideas are relevant to a challenge facing your team or organisation, the three-hour Strategic Stakeholder Engagement Executive Masterclass and Systems Mapping & Strategic Influence Executive Masterclass provide the opportunity to apply the approach in greater depth.

Understand the system. Activate the network. Shape better outcomes.