Any phase · Onboarding
Map your stakeholders
When you join an existing product, quickly learn who matters, what they care about and how decisions are made.
About 3-5 daysEvergreenLast reviewed 5 November 2026
Who this applies to
- Skills it builds
- Communication and influence
- PM types
- All
- Product types
- All
- Starting points
- Partway through a buildRunning a live product
- Ways of working
- All
- Experience
- All
- Size of organisation
- All
Steps, by experience
Beginner (under 1 year)
- Ask your manager and team who the key people are.
- Meet each one and ask what they need from the product and from you.
- Note who makes which decisions.
- Map them by interest and influence.
- Agree how you will keep each one updated.
Intermediate (1 to 4 years)
- Meet key stakeholders in the first two weeks.
- Map interest, influence and decision rights.
- Set up an update rhythm.
Experienced (5+ years)
- Spot tensions between stakeholders early.
- Find the informal influencers.
- Use the map to plan your first big decision.
Who can do this
Owner: Product manager
Can be delegated to
- Delivery Manager: Introduce you to key stakeholders
Reviewed by: Delivery Manager
Tool examples
- Miro
- Draw an interest and influence grid.
- Notion
- Keep notes from each conversation.
Definition of done
- Key stakeholders met
- Map completed
- Update rhythm agreed
Common pitfalls
- Only meeting senior people
- Not asking about decision rights
- Waiting too long to meet people