Stakeholder Engagement Essentials You Always Wanted To Know

Although Stakeholder Engagement Essentials You Always Wanted to Know is very much grounded in reality and practical skills, it also heavily leans on A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). I feel the focus on what the PMBOK® Guide says makes the book better for people who work in organizations that draw their methods from the PMI ways of working.
If you work in an organization that uses a different methodology, you obviously can still learn from the book and apply the core skills.
However, we need books like this, that provide accessible, realistic entry points for people starting out in their careers. Stakeholder Engagement Essentials is clear, precise, and basically a playbook for doing the project management aspects of working with others. It covers:
• Stakeholder identification
• Mapping and analysis
• Creating a stakeholder engagement plan and looping project communications into that
• Working through challenging situations.
If you are new to project management, new to leading project teams – even if you have a lot of other, related business experience in a different field – then this will be relevant to you. Stakeholder engagement on projects is specific and different to the way that you worked with other teams in an operational or line management role, so it is worth reviewing ‘the basics’ so you have a solid understanding of how to make them work.

A longer version of this review first appeared on Rebel's Guide to Project Management: https://rebelsguidetopm.com/stakeholder-engagement-essentials-book/
I was given an advance reader copy via Netgalley in exchange for my review.

Given the dynamic world in which we live, it is crucial more than ever to identify and cultivate your business community's stakeholders. The author accurately reflects this need and establishes proven methods that have helped our community engage with the right stakeholders, at the right time.

Stakeholder Engagement Essentials is the definitive playbook. Michelle leads us through the key processes and provides the tools to effectively execute. A clear, concise, and contemporary field guide for all project managers.

Whether you are a seasoned project manager or simply someone who cares about a project's success, the strategies in this book are for you! Michelle Bartonico distills her years of experience leading successful projects and effectively engaging the most challenging of stakeholders into this helpful manual that reads like a trusted friend and mentor wrote it. No fluff, no jargon- just great advice from a wise and seasoned project management veteran. Highly recommended!

I liked the book.