How can you address a stakeholder who keeps revisiting decisions already made in brand positioning meetings?

When dealing with a stakeholder that repeatedly revisits decisions made during brand positioning discussions, consider following strategies: Engage in open communication to better comprehend their problems. Validate: Recognise their viewpoint without jeopardising previous judgements. Reiterate: Remind them of the reasoning behind their choices. Adapt: Be adaptable and make tiny modifications as needed. Empathise: Acknowledge their involvement and dedication to the brand. Remember that good stakeholder interviews are critical to gaining insights and sustaining alignment. Regularly reviewing your stakeholder list provides targeted interaction.

Ensure that all decisions made in brand positioning meetings are clearly communicated to all stakeholders, including detailed reasoning behind each decision. This can often preempt misunderstandings or repeated discussions on the same topics. Consider distributing minutes or a summary email after each meeting to reinforce understanding and agreement.

Understanding the motives of the stakeholders is important when they revisit a decision to understand the main reason or the purpose of revisting, having a direct and clear communication to find out the shortcomings and modifying it

To further enhance the effectiveness of setting clear roles, ensure that the process is inclusive and transparent. Regularly communicate role responsibilities to all stakeholders and provide updates when changes occur. This fosters a sense of fairness and clarity, reducing the potential for conflicts or misunderstandings about who is responsible for what decisions.

The authority responsibility relationship should be extremely clear and direct. It is the duty of the organisation to make them understand the role/jobs of the delegates or employees in the organisation

Maintaining a timeline of key meetings/decisions and briefly reviewing it at the start of new meetings can be very effective, regardless of whether there’s a stakeholder often wanting to revisit decisions. Brand teams can experience frequent changes, with people coming and going, and this can help new members get up to speed while narrowing the window for undisciplined revisits. The window should never close completely, as there may be legitimate reasons for a shift!

Ensure that all decisions are well-documented, including the reasons for the decisions and any data or discussions that led to the consensus. This documentation should be easily accessible to all stakeholders to review when necessary. Having a formal record can serve as a reference point and help curb the tendency to revisit decisions.

Reiterate the decisions to all the stakeholders once made, focusing on explaining the reason, what it contains and necessity of the decision. This improves the credibility and support of the stakeholders towards the brand

Collaborations with renowned and well established Influencers, Brands, organisations increases the attraction, cooperation and loyalty of all the internal and external stakeholders towards the brand

By involving stakeholders in the decision-making process from the beginning, you can increase their commitment to the outcomes. This approach ensures that all voices are heard, and the decisions made reflect a collective agreement. When stakeholders feel their contributions have been acknowledged and valued, they are less likely to revisit decisions, as they understand the rationale behind them more deeply.

When a stakeholder revisits decisions, it's helpful to offer constructive alternatives that still align with the overarching goals of the brand. This strategy shows that you are open to new ideas and willing to consider different perspectives, but within the framework of what’s best for the brand's positioning. Present these alternatives as enhancements rather than complete overhauls, which can help shift the stakeholder's focus towards improvement rather than revisitation.

If a stakeholder is unhappy with a decision then further alternatives formulated should be put forward so that the goals of the unsatisfied stakeholders perfectly align with the brand's alternatives

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin Regularly review market trends, gather feedback, and be willing to pivot when necessary. Ensure changes align with long-term brand goals. As an image management professional, I’ve witnessed the benefits of staying adaptable and revisiting decisions when new information emerges.