Everything you need to know about identifying stakeholders
Identifying stakeholders on your project is extremely important. Before you can plan communications, manage expectations, or make key decisions, you need to clearly understand who has influence over your project.
Knowing how to identify project stakeholders allows you to move forward confidently with the other critical aspects of project management. Let’s walk through how to do it.
Quick Answers: Identifying Project Stakeholders
Who are project stakeholders?
Project stakeholders are individuals or groups who have a direct or indirect influence on a project or are impacted by its outcome.
Why is identifying stakeholders important?
Identifying stakeholders helps project managers manage expectations, reduce risk, improve communication, and increase the likelihood of project success.
When should stakeholders be identified?
Stakeholders should be identified as early as possible, ideally during project initiation, and reviewed throughout the project life cycle.
Are all stakeholders directly involved in the project?
No. Some stakeholders are directly involved in execution, while others provide guidance, influence decisions, or are impacted by the project’s results.
Who are project stakeholders?
Project stakeholders are any individuals who have some sort of influence on the project, whether that’s a direct or an indirect influence.
There are two types of project stakeholders: internal and external.
Examples of internal stakeholders include:
Some external stakeholders could be external customers that you’re delivering to or suppliers that you’re bringing into the project.
Anyone who touches the project in some way is considered a stakeholder, whether they’re involved in a detailed way or even just from a guidance perspective.
How to Identify Project Stakeholders
Once you understand who you’re looking for, the next step is identifying them systematically.
Check Your Project Documents
Start by reviewing your project documentation. Key documents often contain valuable information about stakeholders.
Your project charter, in particular, is a strong starting point for identifying internal stakeholders. It often lists:
- Sponsors
- Key decision-makers
- High-level roles and responsibilities
Other documents such as contracts, business cases, and governance documents may also point to additional stakeholders.
Other Ways to Identify Stakeholders
If project documents don’t give you a complete picture, there are additional ways to identify stakeholders:
- Talk to your sponsor or senior leaders
- Review organizational charts
- Consider who will be impacted by project outcomes
- Ask who provides approvals, funding, or guidance
Stakeholder identification is not a one-time activity — it should be revisited as the project evolves.
Want More Information?
If you still have questions about this or want some more information, head over to YouTube with me to watch my video on how to identify stakeholders. It’ll only take you a few minutes, but it’s packed full of information on exactly where to start and what to do when it comes to identifying your project stakeholders.
If you want to go above and beyond to make your project management career successful, take a look at my SLAY Project Management course where I give you all the templates, tips, and techniques to implement to make every project successful.
Frequently Asked Questions About Project Stakeholders
Missing stakeholders can lead to misalignment, resistance, unexpected risks, and delays later in the project.
Yes. Project team members are internal stakeholders because they directly influence project execution and outcomes.
Yes. Stakeholders can change as the project progresses, so identification should be reviewed regularly.
Not always. Customers are often stakeholders, but stakeholders can also include sponsors, executives, suppliers, or regulators.
Clear identification helps project managers manage expectations, communicate effectively, and reduce project risk.
