There are few techniques of greater value to consultation professionals than stakeholder mapping.

This can be done in a variety of ways, and to a greater or lesser sophistication. Whilst a simple back-of-an-envelope guess as to where stakeholders map onto an interest/influence matrix is better than nothing, a more formalised process has many advantages.

High on this list is the therapeutic benefit of forcing yourself to answer precise questions about a stakeholder’s true interest in the consultation subject or the extent of its practical influence. We often don’t know: but the process of finding out is a valuable exercise leading to consultors with a better ‘fee’ for those they consult – surely a good thing!