Engaging Stakeholders: The Secret to Proving Impact

WHY L&D STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IS CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS

Every learning professional knows the importance of L&D stakeholder engagement. We know when we build strong relationships with stakeholders, we unlock the potential to align our efforts with what really matters to the business. The result? Greater impact, better outcomes, and fewer headaches. But do we practice what we preach? Not so much.

In this podcast episode, Ash and Han dive into why stakeholder is so important in L&D and how you can actually do it. But if you don’t fancy listening to that pineapple-loving pair laughing at their own jokes, then here are our top five tips to help you out:

4 TIPS TO DRIVE EFFECTIVE L&D STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

1. START WITH THE BUSINESS GOALS

All of our L&D initiatives should be aligned to the business goals and strategy. Instead of jumping straight to solutions or development, align your function to the business goals. Think big picture and ask yourself:

• What are the top priorities for the next 1-3 years?

• Are there skill gaps holding the business back?

• How does leadership define success?
  
  

When you align your work with these goals, you’re no longer just delivering training, you’re driving outcomes that matter.

2. BUILD PROACTIVE, NOT TRANSACTIONAL, RELATIONSHIPS

It’s easy to fall into the trap of only reaching out to stakeholders when you need something. But real trust and collaboration come from consistent, proactive engagement. Make it a habit to:

• Attend team meetings and town halls.

• Drop by (or send a quick message) to check in on what’s happening in different departments.

• Position yourself as a helpful partner, not just the “training person.”

When stakeholders see you as a regular presence in their world, they’ll be more open to involving you in strategic conversations (and isn’t that what we all want?!)

3. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Effective engagement starts with curiosity. Instead of jumping to solutions, dig deeper by asking meaningful questions, like:

• What’s standing in the way of your team’s success?

• How do you measure success right now?

• What’s the root cause of the issue you’re facing?

This approach shows that you genuinely care about solving problems, not just ticking a box.

4. BE CONSULTATIVE, NOT PRESCRIPTIVE

We’ve all been there: a stakeholder asks for a specific training solution (like a 45-minute eLearning module), and it’s tempting to say yes right away. But here’s the thing—your role isn’t just to deliver what’s asked. It’s to understand the real problem and recommend the best solution.

Instead of taking requests at face value, try saying:

“Let’s dig into this a bit more. What’s the performance gap we’re trying to address?”

“Would you be open to exploring other ways to solve this problem?”

This consultative approach builds credibility and ensures your solutions truly hit the mark.

OVERCOMING COMMON CHALLENGES

We get it—engaging stakeholders can feel daunting at first. Here are a few tips to tackle common roadblocks:

• Intimidated by senior leaders? Remember, they’re human too. Start with small, thoughtful questions to build rapport.

• Struggling with time? Think of proactive engagement as an investment. The time you spend now will save you from rework down the road.

• Feeling like you’re in the dark? Explore annual reports, town halls, and internal communications to get a clearer picture of what’s happening in your business.

A CHALLENGE FOR YOU

Ash and Han have set you all a challenge for the next seven days: take the first steps to mastering L&D stakeholder engagement by finding out your organisation’s strategy! Check for annual reports, leadership updates, or even a quick Google search. Hey, if you fancy going really wild – speak to the senior leaders! This is the first step in really proving L&D’s value and redefining our function: so find out the strategy, align yourself to it, and see how L&D goes from an order-taker to a strategic partner. Hop to it!