May 2026 F.I.R.S.T. Newsletter 2 – Stakeholder Skills: The Real Reason Some People Progress Faster
Happy May!
To support you in being F.I.R.S.T. (Future-Ready. Innovative. Relevant. Strategic. Trusted.), here’s 1 tip and 1 quote.
The F.I.R.S.T. Tip
Why Some High Performers Still Feel Stuck
We worked with a leader who had just been promoted.
Highly driven. Strong results. Very focused on delivery.
His weekly one-on-ones with his boss were efficient – updates, numbers, progress.
But something didn’t feel right.
He found himself constantly:
- explaining
- justifying
- convincing
Despite strong performance, support felt limited.
One Small Shift Changed Everything
After coaching, he made a simple adjustment.
Before diving into results, he started:
- building a few minutes of connection
- asking about priorities and challenges
- sharing context before numbers
Within three months:
- his boss became more supportive
- he gained more autonomy
- trust in his judgment increased
Conversations that had felt difficult, became easier.
Here’s The Truth Most People Miss
People who manage stakeholders well, go further, faster.
Not because they work harder.
But because they:
- build trust early
- align expectations clearly
- reduce friction before it appears
What Leaders Often Underestimate
In most organisations, performance alone is not enough.
When decisions are made about promotions, stretch roles and high visibility opportunities, most leaders naturally choose those with:
- high trust
- strong credibility
- clear visibility
Even the best work needs to be understood, supported, and trusted.
Business Impact
When stakeholder alignment is weak, execution slows, resistance increases, and decisions stall.
When alignment is strong, support accelerates, resources unlock faster, and teams move with clarity.
This Month’s Action Focus
Strengthen your stakeholder effectiveness with three simple actions:
1. Map your key stakeholders
Who influences your success and what matters to them?
2. Clarify expectations early
Don’t wait for misalignment to surface.
3. Communicate before friction happens
Proactive conversations build trust faster than reactive ones.
Build High-Trust, High-Performing Teams
Stakeholder management is not just a communication skill.
It is a leadership capability that drives performance across teams and functions.
At Influence Solutions, we help organisations build high-trust leadership and influential communication, enabling teams to collaborate, align, and execute more effectively.
Explore our programmes:
https://influence-solutions.com/our-solutions/our-programmes
Learn how to build high-trust teams:
https://influence-solutions.com/our-solutions/our-programmes/the-high-trust-team
The F.I.R.S.T. Quote
May 2026 F.I.R.S.T. Newsletter 1 – AI Is Making Your Team Faster. But Is It Making Them Replaceable?
April 2026 F.I.R.S.T. Newsletter 1 – Influence vs Authority in the Modern Workplace
