Stakeholder management for content designers: (re)discovering your superpower

Are you struggling to get stakeholder buy-in to your work?
Do you feel like you have to constantly prove your expertise?
Do people talk to you as if you're only there to polish the words that someone else has written?

You are not alone

When it comes to stakeholders, content designers face a unique challenge. Unlike web developers, for example, who are recognised and respected as specialists, content designers are too often seen as project ‘add-ons’ or blockers, whose particular skills are no different to anyone else's.

So stakeholder management for content designers isn’t just about getting project buy-in or access to particular expertise. More often than not, it is also about establishing their right to be involved in the work they’ve been hired to deliver and advocating for the discipline as a whole.

Working in such a contested space can be exhausting and demoralising. It is not uncommon to hear content designers say that they simply don’t want to engage with stakeholders, as they no longer have the energy to address the same old existential challenges.

It doesn’t have to be this way

As someone who has led teams through digital transformation that relied on stakeholder buy-in and support, and as a union activist with more than 25 years' experience, I'm here to tell you that you can learn to manage stakeholders with confidence. And I'm here to help you.

About this course

My vision for this course is simple. Instead of asking why stakeholders behave the way they do, I want you to ask what you can do to change it.

I will teach you:

5 reasons you need to be good at stakeholder management
How to create an effective stakeholder management strategy
10 negotiating tips and tactics
The importance of trust as a key to stakeholder buy-in
How to deal with common stakeholder challenges

Who should attend?

This course is designed for up to 10 participants, and it is suitable for all levels and experience. It's good for you if you:

Are new to content design and want to power up these skills
Want to refresh your skills
Want dedicated time to brainstorm and focus on this important area

Contact me

Get in touch if you're interested in exploring this with me.

What do clients say?

Kirsty, Senior Content Designer, UK

"This training went beyond the helpful hints and tips that I expected - it made me reassess how I think about the relationship between content designers and stakeholders.

Sophie, Content Designer, UK

"I loved this course so much. I don't think I've ever felt so 'seen' or understood by a training provider before!

"Jane clearly has years of valuable experience and hard-won wisdom under her belt - not just as a content person but outside of work too. I learned a lot. Thank you!"

Alice, Content Designer, UK

"Jane's training has changed my view of stakeholder management. The session made me see that managing stakeholders can be fun - like a strategic board game!"

Neil, Senior Content Designer, UK

"The course was really thought provoking.

"It helped me think more strategically about how to deal with stakeholders - specifically about trying to understand stakeholders' needs and perspectives before diving in with solutions."