Last updated on Aug 7, 2024

Your team's expertise is doubted by a senior stakeholder. How will you prove your worth in a crucial meeting?

When a senior stakeholder questions your team's expertise, it can be a pivotal moment. The pressure is on to demonstrate your value in the upcoming critical meeting. You'll need to navigate this challenge with finesse, ensuring that your team's skills and contributions are recognized and respected. The task ahead is to not only reassure the stakeholder of your capabilities but also to strengthen the relationship for future interactions. This article will guide you through the steps to prepare for this crucial encounter and prove your team's worth.

1 Assess Doubts

Understanding the root of the skepticism is crucial before you enter the meeting room. Engage in preliminary discussions with the senior stakeholder to gather insights into their concerns. Listen attentively and ask probing questions to clarify their doubts. This will not only show your commitment to addressing their issues but also help you tailor your presentation to directly counter their uncertainties. Remember, a well-informed defense is more potent than a generic affirmation of your team's abilities.

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Fiona Lin

Project Consultant | Logistics, Operations, Corporate Strategy & Retail Consulting & Project Management | MBA | PRINCE2 Qualified
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Face the doubts head-on and begin with the 3 basics: 1) The cause: To schedule a meeting with the senior stakeholder to collect feedback, uncover where the doubts originate and evaluate how valid they are. Thoroughly assess how they came to the senior stakeholders' opinion. 2) The argument: To arrive at the best solution to the concerns, the team must figure out what the argument is. The doubts are symptoms. To avoid any consequences and ramifications the senior stakeholder spotted and we might have missed, it is critical to know what the real issue is. 3) The actions: With the cause and argument pinpointed, we gauge whether the plan is robust enough to clear the concerns and, if not, offer the action plan to address them.

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2 Prepare Evidence

Once you have pinpointed the concerns, it's time to compile evidence that showcases your team's expertise. Gather data, case studies, and examples of past successes that are relevant to the stakeholder's apprehensions. Your goal is to create a compelling narrative that highlights your team's strengths and achievements. This evidence should be presented in a clear, concise manner during the meeting, leaving no room for doubt about your team's competence and expertise.

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Alexey Grishko

Global Executive in Energy and Retail: Leading Digital Transformation, Operational Excellence, and Infinite Growth
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First - it’s absolutely OK if people have doubts about your professionalism. Like the saying goes: fist half of life your build your reputation, second half - it carries you So don’t take it personally. Trust will build over time. Be open - say that you totally understand their concern and that you will build their trust with your deeds

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3 Rehearse Delivery

Your presentation's impact is heavily influenced by your delivery. Practice your talking points to ensure a confident and articulate presentation. Anticipate potential questions and prepare thoughtful responses. Role-play with a colleague if possible, to simulate the meeting dynamics and receive constructive feedback. By rehearsing, you'll refine your messaging and improve your ability to convey your team's worth effectively.

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Inga Salaseviciute

Account and Service Delivery Manager | Let's talk about Agile Transformation & Test Automation | GTM specialist | Interested in circularity | Views are my own
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You may know your stuff, but how you deliver information goes a long way. Below is my personal way of preparing for any important delivery: - Write down bullet points or the full text of what you want to say. Highlight your main messages, data points, and key phrases. - Rehearse your delivery until you go beyond sounding like an unnatural reading robot and reach the point where you know your main messages by heart, allowing a natural way of speaking to return. - Remember not to rush. Deliver your points with confidence, and don’t rush your pace, aiming to cram too much information into your speaking slot.

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Alexey Grishko

Global Executive in Energy and Retail: Leading Digital Transformation, Operational Excellence, and Infinite Growth
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My personal reflection over 20+ years of career - people see with their eyes, so in presentation design is equally as important as content. So spend some time and money on professional designer to “beef up” your presentation. Trust me - people confidence in your content will increase at least 30%

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4 Showcase Adaptability

During the meeting, demonstrate your team's adaptability by linking your expertise to the stakeholder's strategic goals. Illustrate how your team's skills can be applied to various scenarios, highlighting flexibility and a willingness to tackle new challenges. This adaptability is a key asset that will reassure the stakeholder of your team's potential to contribute to future projects and initiatives.

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5 Foster Dialogue

Encouraging open dialogue during the meeting is essential. Invite the stakeholder to share their perspective and actively listen to their input. This collaborative approach fosters mutual respect and understanding. By engaging in a two-way conversation, you can address concerns in real-time and immediately dispel any lingering doubts.

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6 Commit to Action

Finally, conclude the meeting with a commitment to action. Offer to follow up with additional information or propose a pilot project to demonstrate your team's abilities in a practical setting. This proactive approach shows your dedication to continuous improvement and solidifies the stakeholder's confidence in your team's value.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Your team's expertise is doubted by a senior stakeholder. How will you prove your worth in a crucial meeting?

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1 Assess Doubts

2 Prepare Evidence

3 Rehearse Delivery

4 Showcase Adaptability

5 Foster Dialogue

6 Commit to Action

7 Here’s what else to consider

Senior Stakeholder Management

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Your team's expertise is doubted by a senior stakeholder. How will you prove your worth in a crucial meeting?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Doubts

2 Prepare Evidence

3 Rehearse Delivery

4 Showcase Adaptability

5 Foster Dialogue

6 Commit to Action

7 Here’s what else to consider

Senior Stakeholder Management

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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