Stakeholder Whispering - by Bill Shander (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Learn to uncover what your managers, clients, customers and other stakeholders need before doing what they ask

People don't know what they need. The wants we communicate to others are shaped by our subconscious and the familiar, and limited by what we think is possible. But they don't always reflect our actual needs.

In Stakeholder Whispering: Uncover What People Need Before Doing What They Ask, author Bill Shander demonstrates how to get from your stakeholders' "order"--what they're asking for--to what they really need. You'll learn how to uncover the needs and desires of your clients, colleagues, bosses, customers, and other stakeholders based on what they ask for and how they ask for it, and how to deliver products and services that meet those needs.

Inside the book:

• Help your stakeholders accomplish their goals and make the best decisions possible by helping them see what they really need
• Shift from executing on tactics driven by others' commands, to strategic action driven by underlying needs
• Transform your organization from one filled with "order-takers" into one where people work collaboratively to meet goal-oriented requirements

Perfect for managers, executives, and other business leaders, Stakeholder Whispering will also earn a place on the bookshelves of entrepreneurs, founders, designers, product and project managers, UX experts, data and business analysts, and anyone else hoping to better meet the expectations of their coworkers, managers, clients, and customers.

From the Back Cover

Praise for Stakeholder WHISPERING

"Stakeholder Whispering is a masterclass in navigating the complex world of stakeholder management. Shander's approach emphasizes empathy, strategic inquiry, and real engagement, providing readers with practical tools to navigate complex dynamics and build trust-based connections. A must-read for leaders seeking impactful, long-lasting relationships in any organization."
--Dr. MARSHALL GOLDSMITH, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach, New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There

"Stop wasting time and resources solving the wrong problems! Bill Shander can show you how in Stakeholder Whispering: Uncover What People Need Before Doing What They Ask. Bill takes us on a highly readable and even entertaining journey with practical advice. I highly recommend it."
--SARA CANADAY, Leadership Strategist, Speaker, Author

"The best leaders are great listeners. In fact, they lead by listening in a way that also helps them be more fully heard by all stakeholders; it's a virtuous circle. So how do we become better listeners? Bill Shander's Stakeholder Whispering: Uncover What People Need Before Doing What They Ask is a practical guide to help leaders and aspiring leaders hone their ability to hear what really matters to the people they lead. I highly recommend it."
--DOUG CONANT, Founder and CEO of ConantLeadership and former CEO of Campbell Soup Company

"Organizations can spend a lot of time and resources solving the wrong problems. Author Bill Shander's new book, Stakeholder Whispering: Uncover What People Need Before Doing What They Ask, can help you and your teams find a better focus on what really matters. This should be a key handbook for every organization of any size."
--ANGELA WATSON, FAIA, LEED AP, President and CEO of Shepley Bulfinch

About the Author

BILL SHANDER is an information designer. For over 30 years, he has been helping clients turn their data into compelling visual (and often interactive) experiences. Clients include the World Bank, United Nations, Starbucks, PwC, MIT, multiple U.S. government agencies, and many more. He's also spent the past 10 years as an educator teaching these skills.