Manager of Stakeholder Relations Skills Interview
Author:
Victoria KuketzIn Victoria Kuketz’s template, interview content is optimized for a Manager of Stakeholder Relations who is responsible for driving the design and implementation of a member relations program. It also involves building and managing relationships in a high-touch environment, maintaining diversity in representation across member base, and supporting all members through every stage of the membership lifecycle.
Focus area:
Question
1
Tell me about a time you listened to a specific community of stakeholders to understand and effectively advocate for their needs. How did you approach this and what was the outcome?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to communicate and engage with stakeholders effectively
Explore tips
- Shares an example demonstrating key communication and active listening skills
- Focuses on what stakeholders are saying to understand the problem
- Gains a deep understanding of the problem by asking questions
- Builds stakeholder trust through open, honest, and timely communications
- Takes a co-creation approach when advocating/acting on stakeholder needs
Question
2
If you were writing a document on behalf of your organization to send out to stakeholders, how would you ensure the message is communicated effectively in writing?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate’s ability to develop effective written communications for stakeholders
Explore tips
- Emphasizes the importance of an outline/structure for written communications
- Clearly states the objective/purpose of the document at the beginning
- Tailors writing style and language to the relevant audience
- Analyzes and addresses any optics at play or risks to be mitigated
- Proofreads/edits work before disseminating
Question
3
Can you think of a time where you've built a strong relationship with a stakeholder/client? What strategies did you use to build trust and rapport, and how did you know it was successful?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate’s ability to develop and maintain high quality relationships with stakeholders
Explore tips
- Explains how they gathered information to understand stakeholders priorities
- Applied empathy and compassion when engaging with stakeholders
- Maintained open lines of communication and responded in a timely manner
- Understands the business importance of engaging with stakeholders
- Recognizes that stakeholder relationship maintenance is an ongoing activity
Question
4
Describe how you have organized and managed stakeholder information in the past to build and maintain effective engagement strategies.
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to collect, manage, and leverage stakeholder data to support relationships
Explore tips
- Applies data-driven approach to stakeholder engagement/initiatives
- Exhibits experience with managing data from a variety of sources
- Elaborates on the data collection process and data storage software/tools
- Suggests using stakeholder feedback data to refine engagement strategies
- Emphasizes the importance of data to track membership status and relations
Question
5
Political acumen is really important to being successful as a Manager of Stakeholder Relations. Can you tell me about a time where you used your knowledge of workplace politics to your advantage in the past? What was the outcome?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate understands informal practices and leverages that knowledge to be successful in their role
Explore tips
- Explains the scenario and the outcome they were trying to achieve
- Describes informal factors/external influences they observed
- Justifies how their knowledge of politics worked to their advantage
- Explains how the outcome was effective for the overall organization
Question
6
Imagine you've joined our company and are tasked with improving our stakeholder engagement strategy. Can you please explain how you would approach this and share an example of when you've done this in the past?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to engage stakeholders while using a strategy aligned with business goals and objectives
Explore tips
- Explains the steps they would take to both assess and improve the strategy
- Generates ideas that contribute to the overarching goals of the organization
- Suggests creating a stakeholder matrix to map interdependencies/relationships
- Focuses on the entirety of the ecosystem to create an informed strategy
- Shares specific metrics to be used in tracking goals and improvements
Question
7
Please tell me about a time where you planned a membership engagement program. Outline the steps you took to plan, promote, execute and track the program, and explain why it was successful.
What does this question reveal?
Candidate has the ability to develop and implement a strategy and process for successful engagement programs
Explore tips
- Determines a clear plan, timeline, promotion channels, collaborators, etc.
- Identifies the target audience and different ways to engage them
- Emphasizes importance of capturing stakeholder needs for program co-creation
- Exhibits creativity, innovation, and knowledge of best practices in suggestions
- Discusses the role of data collection and feedback loops in tracking success
Question
8
What parts of this role do you anticipate to be a challenge for you? Can you share an example in the past where you encountered a steep learning curve and explain how you approached it?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate exhibits an eagerness to grow and develop through taking on new challenges
Explore tips
- Highlights challenges that accurately reflect the role and organization
- Suggests resources that will support their learning
- Identifies specific skills they hope to learn through challenges/opportunities
- Displays self-awareness/humility by acknowledging things will not be perfect
- Experiments and works with others to learn and overcome challenges
Question
9
Imagine you've organized a panel for stakeholders to share their opinions on an initiative. How would you approach a stakeholder finding out and feeling upset they were not invited?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate shows a tendency to be honest about mistakes and reflect on learnings
Explore tips
- Apologizes for their dissatisfaction and acknowledges their oversight
- Exhibits humility, care, initiative, and professionalism in their approach
- Engages with stakeholder to co-create an alternative and meaningful solution
- Communicates follow-up action being taken to resolve the issue
- Reflects on how this issue could be improved or avoided in future
Question
10
Can you share an example of when you had a very upset stakeholder in the past because of something you did? What was the issue, and how did you respond?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate shows a tendency to be honest about mistakes and reflect on learnings
Explore tips
- Apologizes for their dissatisfaction and acknowledges their oversight
- Exhibits humility, care, initiative, and professionalism in their approach
- Engages with stakeholder to co-create an alternative and meaningful solution
- Communicates follow-up action being taken to resolve the issue
- Reflects on how this issue could be improved or avoided in future
Question
11
Tell me about a time you adapted your services/initiatives/programs to cater to a specific stakeholder or group of stakeholders (e.g., making them accessible). What did you change, and why?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate demonstrates empathy and personalized interactions with members/stakeholders
Explore tips
- Shares a specific example by describe their approach and their change process
- Justifies their adaptation based on stakeholder needs
- Exhibits creativity in developing an appropriate solution
- Shows they can listen to and empathize with a stakeholder’s situation
- Demonstrates an ability to be flexible and accommodating
Question
12
Tell me about a time your team collaborated with a specific community to co-create an Equity Diversity Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) strategic initiative. How did you collaborate, and why was it successful?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate’s ability to apply principles of inclusivity and co-creation
Explore tips
- Suggests structured approach for consulting/managing stakeholder involvement
- Exhibits openness to learning by actively soliciting feedback from stakeholders
- Follows up with stakeholders who provide feedback to demonstrate authenticity
- Shares any challenges they encountered and how they overcame them
- Clearly describes how their strategy was connected to EDIA main objectives
Question
13
How would you describe your leadership style, and based on your knowledge of our company and this role why do you think it would be a good fit?
What does this question reveal?
Candidate displays awareness of their own leadership style and whether it fits the organization
Explore tips
- Describes a specific style and explains why it reflects their personal approach
- Empowers others to be their most productive selves
- Works with team to remove any barriers to inclusion
- Develops team through mentorship, sponsorship, and constructive feedback
- Explains why it would be a good fit based on company values and characteristics
