Stake holder analysis
What financial or emotional interest do they have in the outcome of your work – is it positive or negative?
What motivates them most of all?
What support do you want from them?
What information do they want from you?
How do they want to receive information from you – what is the best way of communicating your message to them? (This will input into your communications plan)
What is their current opinion of your work and is it based on good information?
Who influences their opinions generally and who influences their opinion of you?
Do some of these influencers therefore become important stakeholders in their own right?
If they are not likely to be positive what will win them round to give their support?
If you are unlikely to win around, then how will you manage their opposition?
Who else might be influenced by their opinions and decide if they need to become stakeholders in their own right?