AMA: Gainsight Director, Product Management, Sailaja Kalle on Stakeholder Management

We use Agile sprints to manage big projects and track deadlines for each sprint to ensure on time delivery. 3 reasons in my opinion that breaks the deadline timeframe delivery 1. Poor Planning - Having an unrealistic plan is sure shot way to failure. Make sure you always plan effectively, and if you don’t feel you’re being given the time or necessary level of detail to do so, raise HANDS. 2. Poor Estimation - Breaking down the requirements into smaller pieces of tasks and building features to achieve them will allow for better estimation 3. Scope Creep - Sometimes change of scope will allow for deadlines go haywire. Keeping the scope and managing any change of scope appropriately will help manage risks properly. Keeping the communication channels open and building trust with teams will help keep path to delivery straight

Conflicts can arise from different sources, such as misaligned goals, expectations, or interests, unclear roles and responsibilities, communication gaps or breakdowns, cultural or personality differences, or competing demands or resources. Establishing common goals across stakeholders, prioritize comminication first across teams, nurturing team bonds will help address and manage disagreements

Having a regular cadence of communication is key to proper alignment * Communicate clearly and frequently Use multiple channels and formats, such as video calls, emails, instant messages, and newsletters. * Set clear expectations Define the scope, goals, roles, responsibilities, deadlines, and feedback mechanisms for each project or task. * Build trust and rapport Trust is essential for collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving, while rapport is important for creating a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and support. * Others Assign responsibilities and clear goals for all team members. Having right tools also will help.