Must We Always Keep Our Stakeholders Happy?

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Short answer: Yes… and No.

Sounds like a cop-out, right? Stick with us.

In a perfect world: Sure. Keep everyone smiling. Stakeholders have rights, expectations, and some sense of entitlement baked in. We owe them that.

In the real world: Forget it. The bigger and more diverse your stakeholder pool, the harder it gets. Their interests clash with yours. Worse, they clash with each other. You can’t keep everyone happy without losing your sanity (or your business).

So what’s the play?
Not happiness. Balance.

👉 Meet as many needs as you realistically can.
👉 Keep your organisation’s success at the centre.
👉 And communicate. Loudly. Clearly. Consistently.

Because let’s be honest - you’ll never win the “happiness game.” But you can win the trust game.

Stakeholders don’t need rainbows and cupcakes. They need to know where they stand. If you’re transparent and upfront, they’ll respect you even if they don’t love every decision.

So, stop chasing smiles. Start building trust.

That’s what keeps them on the journey with you.




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