How can you handle stakeholder objections outside your expertise?

1 Acknowledge and clarify

The first step is to acknowledge the stakeholder's objection or question and clarify what they are asking or challenging. This shows that you are listening and respecting their input, and also helps you understand the scope and context of their issue. You can use phrases like "That's a good point", "I appreciate your feedback", or "Can you please elaborate on that?" to acknowledge and clarify.

2 Identify the source of expertise

The next step is to identify who or what is the source of expertise on the topic that the stakeholder is objecting or questioning. This could be a person, a document, a tool, or a process that has the relevant knowledge or experience to address the issue. You can use phrases like "That's a question for our technical team", "That's covered in our policy document", or "That's something we can check with our data analysis tool" to identify the source of expertise.

4 Follow up and close

The final step is to follow up and close the issue with the stakeholder, once you have obtained the answer or solution from the source of expertise. You should communicate the answer or solution clearly and confidently, and explain how it addresses their objection or question. You should also ask for their feedback and confirmation, and thank them for their input. You can use phrases like "Here is the answer from our technical team", "This is how our policy document explains this issue", or "These are the results from our data analysis tool" to follow up and close.

Handling stakeholder objections outside your expertise can be a tricky situation, but by following these steps, you can manage it effectively and professionally. You can also demonstrate your skills as a senior stakeholder manager by showing your willingness to learn, your ability to collaborate, and your respect for diverse perspectives.