Hi!

Last month, our Comm Convo focused on a challenge every communicator faces nearly every day: securing buy-in.

In our session, we explored how to move ideas forward when decision-makers have competing priorities, misaligned expectations, or unspoken concerns. The conversation surfaced a range of strategies – from navigating informal power structures to reframing resistance as opportunity.

Here are our top 10 takeaways to consider, whether they’re refreshers or spark new approaches for working with your stakeholders:

1. Map informal power networks. Look beyond org charts to identify who actually influences outcomes – including implementation teams, trusted advisors, and cross-functional voices not formally listed as decision-makers.

2. Consolidate individual stakeholder intel. Meet with decision-makers one-on-one to uncover personal priorities; then frame shared themes as internal consensus rather than external push.

3. Engage those who are consistently quiet. Follow up with stakeholders who remain silent in meetings. They often hold unvoiced concerns that could later stall or unravel a project.

4. Build support team champions. Secure buy-in from operational teams early so they become advocates, sustaining momentum from strategy to execution.

5. Lead with why, not what. When tension arises, guide discussions back to shared goals and strategic purpose instead of tactical preferences.

6. Win people, not arguments. Seek mutual understanding over being right. Trust is more persuasive than proof when it comes to shifting mindsets.

7. Make data visual and compelling. Present information in formats that help stakeholders see the insight, not just absorb more facts.

8. Start small with proof points. Pilot initiatives as low-risk demonstrations. Let results speak before asking stakeholders to commit widely.

9. Separate message from mechanism. Clarify the underlying value before getting caught in the weeds of how something will be implemented.

10. Use peer pressure as a last resort. Bring in trusted voices or champions when relationship-building and evidence have been exhausted (use this tool sparingly and strategically!).
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Thanks to everyone who participated in the conversation and brought these ideas to life.

Now, we’re moving into June’s theme: Communicating Across Borders. We’ll be exploring how to earn trust and drive alignment across geographies, cultures, and organizations.

Lynnea

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