Making Stakeholder Collaboration Actually Work
Practical approaches to effective stakeholder collaboration in NHS strategy development
Making Stakeholder Collaboration Actually Work
Most NHS organizations claim to value stakeholder collaboration, but 70% of stakeholders feel disconnected from strategy processes. Making stakeholder collaboration actually work requires moving beyond consultation to genuine co-creation.
Why Collaboration Fails
Stakeholder collaboration fails because organizations confuse consultation with collaboration:
The Consultation Trap:
- Stakeholders consulted after strategy is written
- Feedback collected but not meaningfully incorporated
- Stakeholders feel heard but not engaged
- Result: Disconnection and resistance
The Problem: Consultation isn't collaboration. It's one-way communication that creates the illusion of engagement without the reality.
What Real Collaboration Looks Like
Real stakeholder collaboration is co-creation:
The Co-Creation Approach:
- Stakeholders participate in creating the strategy
- Their input is incorporated because they're creating it
- They own the result because they created it
- Result: 100% engagement and commitment
The Difference: In consultation, stakeholders comment on a strategy. In co-creation, stakeholders create the strategy.
Practical Approaches
Making stakeholder collaboration work requires practical approaches:
1. Start Together, Not Sequentially
The Problem: Traditional processes start with senior leadership, then consult others.
The Solution: Start with all stakeholders together. Problem framing, systems mapping, and solution design happen together.
The Result: Shared understanding and ownership from the start.
2. Real-Time Collaboration
The Problem: Batch-and-queue processes create delays and disconnection.
The Solution: Real-time collaboration where stakeholders work together simultaneously.
The Result: Immediate synthesis and integration, no waiting or disconnection.
3. Equal Participation
The Problem: Dominant voices drown out others in traditional meetings.
The Solution: Structured processes that ensure everyone participates equally.
The Result: All perspectives included, better decisions.
4. Visible Integration
The Problem: Stakeholders don't see how their input is used.
The Solution: Real-time integration where stakeholders see their input incorporated immediately.
The Result: Stakeholders see their contribution, feel ownership.
The Structured Approach
Making collaboration work requires structure:
Pre-Session Preparation:
- Identify key stakeholders
- Understand their perspectives
- Prepare for productive collaboration
Structured Co-Creation:
- Clear process and framework
- Equal participation ensured
- Real-time synthesis and integration
Post-Session Follow-Up:
- Refinement and adjustment
- Implementation planning
- Ongoing engagement
Common Pitfalls
Avoiding common pitfalls is essential:
Pitfall 1: Calling Consultation Collaboration
- Problem: Consultation labeled as collaboration
- Solution: True co-creation, not consultation
Pitfall 2: Dominant Voices
- Problem: Loudest voices control the process
- Solution: Structured processes ensure equal participation
Pitfall 3: No Follow-Through
- Problem: Collaboration ends when strategy is written
- Solution: Ongoing engagement through implementation
Pitfall 4: Unrealistic Expectations
- Problem: Expecting perfect consensus
- Solution: Focus on shared ownership, not perfect agreement
The Dynamic Genie Approach
Dynamic Genie implements effective stakeholder collaboration:
Pre-Session Intelligence:
- Understand stakeholder perspectives
- Prepare for productive collaboration
- Address known issues proactively
Structured Co-Creation Day:
- All stakeholders together
- Structured process ensures equal participation
- Real-time synthesis and integration
Immediate Output:
- Complete strategy by end of day
- Everyone owns it because everyone created it
- Ready for implementation
The Result: Collaboration that actually works, producing strategies everyone owns.
The Results
Organizations using effective stakeholder collaboration report:
Engagement:
- 100% stakeholder engagement
- Everyone participates, not just the loudest
- All perspectives included
Ownership:
- Everyone owns the strategy because they created it
- Implementation driven forward with commitment
- No resistance because everyone is committed
Success:
- Strategies that actually get implemented
- Resources used effectively
- Value delivered
Conclusion
Making stakeholder collaboration actually work requires moving beyond consultation to co-creation. It requires starting together, collaborating in real-time, ensuring equal participation, and making integration visible.
If you're struggling with stakeholder collaboration that doesn't work, Dynamic Genie can help you implement effective co-creation that produces strategies everyone owns.
Related Reading: