Powerful Ways to Communicate With Stakeholders As A Product Manager

If you’re a product manager, you’ll likely understand the need to communicate properly with the stakeholders for the success of your product launch.

One of the main reasons, I’ve discovered that could lead to the failure of a product is that there is a bridge in the stakeholder communication. From employees to first-time customers. Understanding how to communicate with stakeholders is one of the most important skills in running a successful product.

Strategic thinking, data acumen, technical fluency and user research are just some of the many skills that make product managers successful.

You may wonder, isn’t communication a simple task? You know?

Nope. Sure, some people are naturally more eloquent and fluid in speech than others. These people are able to hold conversations and communicate without stress.

While stakeholders can offer incredible insights that help mould current and new initiatives, it’s far too easy to get so caught up in the needs of the products and organization that absorbing these insights falls by the wayside.

It might seem difficult at first, but anyone can master good communication skills with enough effort and dedicated practice.

So, how can you improve your communication with the stakeholders as a product manager?

Let’s get to it!

Why communication is vital for product managers

As a product manager, you have to devote time to communicating with your stakeholders more than executing. Not just with your stakeholders but with the team you lead as well. Communication isn’t about filling up your routines and calendar with meetings. 

It is about allocating enough time to get ready for meetings and to follow up after so you can get the most out of the agenda

For example, spend time talking with your customers, studying metrics, comparing numbers, a look at market trends, conducting research, reviewing roadmap and talking to other managers too.

The quality of your job as a product manager is measured by the success of your team rather than the number of user stories done during a specific sprint.

How to improve your communication with the stakeholders as a Product Manager

Make communication a two-way conversation

Communication is beyond merely giving your ears to a person to hear their words without really listening. Both are about you going on and on without breathing space for the other party’s input. 

During product timelines, you’ll find that a lot of concerns are raised by the stakeholders. They may want to check for the product’s progress, address questions or proffer suggestions as well.

Imbibe the habit of asking your stakeholders what they think, what they envision and what they see as it relates to the product work is key to creating transformative partnerships. You can do this on social media, in meetings and through emails, but start with the invitation to dialogue

Be transparent and honest

Communication is a two-way lane, and the foremost objective is to pay heed to your stakeholders. Honesty and transparency help you understand where they are coming from. This solid foundation makes your communication with stakeholders more productive because you now have a better sense of their values, interests and expectations

Examine the habits of the stakeholders

Examine the habits of the stakeholders to meet their needs rather than the organization’s needs. True relevance is about understanding the habits of the stakeholders and bringing change to the organization. 

This enables the community to build genuine partnerships with stakeholders. So, shift the narrative to bring in the “you” of the stakeholder as well as the voice of an impact on those served.

Everything comes down to habits. Study where the stakeholders live based on their “habits,” so be sure to share important details of the product to which they will pay attention. Social media and email are two platforms we know stakeholders are apt to be engaging with, so share your efforts. The odds are in your favor that they will see and notice them.

Keep Conversations Relevant And Engaging

Ensure that what you say should be relevant. Start with an appreciation if they are a current donor. If they are not a donor, start with a value statement that immediately engages the person in the conversation and tells them why you are communicating.

Consider Stakeholder Communication Preferences

Successful communication is established on the bedrock of identifying what the stakeholders prefer, their style of communication and convenient platforms, find out what works best for them. 

If they say, for instance, that calls are their preferred communications vehicle, then commit to sending them documents and messages through that means, with constant reminders if need be when you send something that requires a response. That way you can be sure that your communication is reaching the stakeholder, that they are reading it and that you receive a response

If you commit time and steady practice to these tips, you’ll become outstanding in communicating with the stakeholders without issues. Communication will surely help you to build a stable relationship and contribute to the success of the product as well. Take it seriously!

Did I miss other helpful tips for stakeholder communication? Share your two cents with me in the comments.