LEADERSHIP

24 • LEADERSHIP
This little high-energy fur ball reinforces the notion that
you don’t have to look like a superhero to think and act like
one. Your project teammates don’t have Rocky's panache, but
I bet they bring sufficient technical and tactical skills to get the
job done—assuming that they understand their roles and responsibilities
and that they bring even a modicum of Rocky’s
enthusiasm.
Let’s take a look at the key members of your team. Each
stakeholder is, willingly or unwillingly essential. The leader’s
job is to engage each team member’s full commitment and
authentic participation to achieve what are often unspoken,
unclear, unacknowledged, but none-the-less essential roles
and outcomes. Your project’s chances for success improve
when each stakeholder’s goals, roles, and responsibilities are
Clear, Purposeful, and Enthusiastically Acted upon.
In the broadest sense, stakeholders—everyone who can
impact or be impacted by the project—include the owner, end
users, planners, implementers, and, depending on the industry
or technology involved, many others. For government projects,
for example, every voter is a project stakeholder! I don’t
recommend that you attempt to lead at this level of minutia,
but I recommend that you be aware of all stakeholder groups
and their points of view, their potential influence, and exactly
how their participation—or lack thereof—factors into your
success equation. Some cute and cuddly little fur balls have
sharp teeth.