Sometimes, trying too hard is what drives them away.

Stakeholder drift doesn’t always happen because we don’t care.

Sometimes it happens because we care too much… and it shows.

There’s a kind of overreach that’s easy to slip into - especially in today’s environment where relationships feel more fragile, the pressure for results is rising and deals are harder to land.

So we double down. Over-communicate. Check in again. Chase. Repeat. 

The problem: the more pressure we apply, the more they want to pull away. 

That sense of neediness can make us less credible, less trustworthy and, ultimately, less influential.

One experienced relationship manager I was chatting to yesterday shared with me that she now asks stakeholders:

👉 “How often do you want to hear from me?”

That simple move does three things:

✔️ Respects autonomy.

✔️ Aligns expectations.

✔️ Signals confidence rather than neediness.

When the relationship matters, the question isn’t just to show up. It’s how to show up without pushing them away.

_________________________

👆 This is why I’ve launched the Stakeholder Speed Audit - a fast, practical session designed to help teams:

→ Spot relationship risks before they turn into real problems

→ Sharpen focus on the trajectory of stakeholder relationships

→ Get practical strategies to strengthen connection

It’s part diagnostic. Part insight. All practical.

If your team relies on internal and external stakeholders to get things done, this might be exactly what you need.

📅 Now booking sessions - message me and I’ll share the details.