{"id":19697,"date":"2024-10-28T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T14:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/?p=19697"},"modified":"2025-06-24T05:27:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T09:27:49","slug":"how-to-deal-with-difficult-stakeholders-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-difficult-stakeholders-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Deal with Difficult Stakeholders in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With today\u2019s mix of hybrid and remote work, knowing how to deal with difficult stakeholders has become more critical than ever. Navigating digital communication and shifting project priorities isn\u2019t always easy, especially when stakeholders are challenging to engage. Below, we\u2019ll go over some common signs of difficult stakeholders and provide practical strategies for overcoming these challenges. Leading companies like  have prioritized effective stakeholder engagement in remote-first environments.<\/p>\n<h5>Lack of Consistent Communication<\/h5>\n<p>When stakeholders don\u2019t respond consistently, it can feel like hitting a wall in your project\u2019s progress. This common issue can slow down workflows and make it tough to maintain momentum.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pro Tip<\/strong>: Tools like Slack or Trello can streamline communication, helping everyone stay accountable. Scheduling regular check-ins can also keep things on track.<\/p>\n<h5>Terse or Critical Feedback<\/h5>\n<p>Let\u2019s face it\u2014digital feedback isn\u2019t always easy to interpret, and it can often come across as harsher than intended. This type of feedback can lead to misunderstandings if left unaddressed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pro Tip<\/strong>: Set up regular video check-ins where feedback can be discussed openly, making it easier to understand the intended tone and meaning.<\/p>\n<h5>Lack of Urgency<\/h5>\n<p>If a stakeholder doesn\u2019t share your sense of urgency, it can put a serious dent in your project\u2019s momentum. Without alignment, deadlines may slip, and project timelines can become compromised.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pro Tip<\/strong>: Set clear milestones and use automated reminders to keep deadlines visible and stakeholders accountable.<\/p>\n<h5>How to Deal with Difficult Stakeholders: Key Strategies<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Get It in Writing<\/strong>: After each meeting, send a quick follow-up email to document decisions and responsibilities, ensuring everyone\u2019s on the same page.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Show Appreciation<\/strong>: Recognize contributions through personalized messages, which can go a long way toward fostering goodwill.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hold Up Your End<\/strong>: Use task trackers to visibly manage your responsibilities, encouraging mutual accountability. Companies like  emphasize transparency and shared ownership to overcome these common project roadblocks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>See Your Projects Through to Success<\/h5>\n<p>Knowing how to deal with difficult stakeholders is a skill worth developing\u2014it can make all the difference in getting your projects across the finish line. With today\u2019s digital tools, you can foster better alignment and streamline workflows, even with challenging stakeholders.<\/p>\n<p>Ready to improve your stakeholder management skills? <a href=\"https:\/\/lms.nextlevelpurchasing.com\/\"><strong>Explore our courses<\/strong><\/a> for advanced techniques and tools to elevate your procurement expertise.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Recommended Reading<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/keys-to-negotiation-success\/\">Keys to Negotiation Success<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/top-competencies-of-procurement-professionals\/\">Top Competencies of Procurement Professionals<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/leveraging-critical-factors-for-supply-chain-success\/\">Leveraging Critical Factors for Supply Chain Success<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/seven-keys-to-better-sourcing-and-supplier-relationships\/\">Seven Keys to Better Sourcing and Supplier Relationships<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/soft-skills-for-supplier-relationship-management\/\">Soft Skills for Supplier Relationship Management<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/a-gameplan-for-procurement-transformation\/\">A Gameplan for Procurement Transformation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/how-to-develop-leadership-skills-within\/\">How To Develop Leadership Skills Within Your Procurement Department<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With today\u2019s mix of hybrid and remote work, knowing how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":19699,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[266,294,95,540,541],"tags":[546,545,547,551,549,544,248,552,550,553,543,548,415,542,554],"class_list":["post-19697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communication-and-collaboration","category-leadership","category-procurement-operations-management","category-project-management","category-stakeholder-management","tag-communication-challenges","tag-difficult-stakeholders","tag-digital-tools","tag-feedback-management","tag-hybrid-teams","tag-managing-stakeholders","tag-procurement","tag-procurement-strategies","tag-project-accountability","tag-project-milestones","tag-project-success","tag-remote-work","tag-stakeholder-engagement","tag-stakeholder-management","tag-virtual-collaboration"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.4 (Yoast SEO v19.13) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Deal with Difficult Stakeholders in 2025 - Next Level Purchasing Association (NLPA)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want to deal with difficult stakeholders and improve project success? 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