I don’t know about you, but Netflix is a signal.

If I find myself bingeing on an episode, it’s not just that it’s good; it’s that I’m running out of puff.

I know it’s much better to read a book at the end of the day. I sleep better; it’s better for my mind … all of that.

I know.

But when I’ve run out of steam, I just don’t have enough energy to read.

So, I binge.

In doing that, I occasionally learn something that is useful for work. Just as well, given I’ve been through a series or two (or 20?).

Today I’ll unpack that idea for you.

Have you noticed how Netflix episodes are short, and near the end of every one, something happens that makes you think you MUST watch the next in the series?

It’s a very, very clever tactic.

I haven’t gone mad. I’m NOT telling you to leave your big idea at the end.

But I am going to suggest there is value in doing what they are actually doing.

It’s technically called foreshadowing, or you might say hinting, at what is to come.

You can use this in your own stakeholder management processes to create comfort and confidence among key stakeholders.

Here are three ways to tweak it to your situation:

1. Create confidence by framing your storytelling journey well. Let your audience know how you will deliver your story. By that I mean get out of the story itself and foreshadow how you will bring it to them. Explain what you will tell them when and how you will run the presentation.
2. Alert your stakeholders as to what is to come if you see them before your presentation. You might say something like, “I’ll be talking more about that on Thursday at the ExCo meeting”. It primes them to be ready to hear what you have to say.
3. Prepare your stakeholders so they are ready for what you have to say. You might say things like, “We are not there yet, but will be by the end of the year.”

These tiny tactics outside the content of your communication help your stakeholders align with where you are going.

I hope that helps. More next week.

Davina

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2. Richard Medcalf – Making Time for Strategy
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4. Helping Leaders ‘shift testing left’ to derisk projects
5. A Case Study in Digitial Transformation
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7. How to hit the ground running in a big new role
8. How to communicate during great change
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