Listen "Customer Success Playbook Podcast Season 2 Episode 33 - Katie Clark - Buy in from Internal Stake Holders"
Episode Synopsis
Send us a textIn this episode, hosts Roman Trebon and Kevin Metzger interview Katie Clark, Implementation Manager at PocketHealth, about the critical process of securing internal stakeholder buy-in for major initiatives. Katie shares her expertise on understanding different stakeholder types, generating momentum, crafting compelling messages, overcoming resistance, and celebrating success.Detailed AnalysisKey Themes:Importance of Stakeholder Buy-In: Katie emphasizes that stakeholders are the ultimate decision-makers who control resources and project approval. Without their support, projects can stagnate, leading to delays and potential career limitations.Understanding Your Audience: Katie categorizes stakeholders into three groups: founders (emotional/personal stakes), investors (financial focus), and community (voice of the customer). Tailoring communication to each group's motivations is crucial for success.Identifying Stakeholders: Leveraging information from the sales process, analyzing job titles, and engaging in direct conversations are effective methods for understanding stakeholder roles and motivations.Communication Strategies: Over-communication and transparency are vital.Weekly project updates and milestone celebrations keep stakeholders engaged.Adapting communication styles to suit different stakeholders (e.g., data-driven vs. narrative-focused).The importance of face-to-face communication, even in remote settings.Overcoming Resistance: Directly asking stakeholders about their concerns.Rallying support from initial project champions.Creating a sense of urgency to drive action.Continuous Buy-In: Buy-in is not a one-time event but an ongoing process throughout the project lifecycle.Transparency in Setbacks: Being open about challenges builds trust and demonstrates adaptability.Role of AI in Communication: AI can be a supportive tool for improving communication skills but should not replace genuine, personal communication.Business Insights:Stakeholder Mapping: Develop a comprehensive stakeholder map at the project outset to identify key decision-makers and their motivations.Communication Planning: Create a tailored communication plan for each stakeholder group, considering their preferred style and information needs.Milestone-Driven Approach: Structure projects around clear milestones to facilitate regular celebrations of success and maintain momentum.Proactive Problem-Solving: Address potential issues early to prevent minor setbacks from becoming major roadblocks.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Leverage support from various departments to reinforce the importance of initiatives.Adaptive Leadership: Be prepared to adjust strategies based on stakeholder feedback and changing project dynamics.Skill Development: Invest in improving communication skills, including written communication for remote work environments.TechnologyPlease Like, Comment, Share and Subscribe. You can also find the CS Playbook Podcast:YouTube - @CustomerSuccessPlaybookPodcastTwitter - @CS_PlaybookYou can find Kevin at:Metzgerbusiness.com - Kevin's person web siteKevin Metzger on Linked In.You can find Roman at:Roman Trebon on Linked In.
More episodes of the podcast The Customer Success Playbook
Customer Success Playbook Podcast S3 E72 - Adrian Swinscoe - Enhancing Customer Experience with AI
28/08/2025
Customer Success Playbook Podcast S3 E71 - Adrian Swinscoe - Unlocking Value in Customer Journeys
19/08/2025
Customer Success Playbook Podcast S3 E70 - Adrian Swinscoe - Data and Customer Storytelling
10/08/2025
Customer Success Playbook S3 E69 - Gayle Gorvett - Scaling AI Governance Without Killing Innovation
25/07/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.