This is basically the core bizops question and I still fumbled it a bit.
Frame your answer around a structured, data-driven approach that aligns the initiative with stakeholder priorities and company goals. Emphasize listening first to understand concerns, then tailoring your communication to address them with evidence and a clear ask. Highlight the importance of building coalitions and iterating based on feedback.
Pro tip: At Google, senior stakeholders value engineers who speak their language—focus on impact, metrics, and risk mitigation, not just technical elegance. Show that you've thought about how the initiative supports their OKRs and the broader organization.
Identify each stakeholder's goals, incentives, and potential objections by researching and having 1:1 conversations. Listen actively to understand what success looks like for them.
Develop a clear, concise story that connects the initiative to business impact, using data, prototypes, or pilot results to make the case tangible. Anticipate and address counterarguments.
Start with early adopters and influencers who can advocate for the initiative. Leverage their support to gain credibility and momentum with more skeptical stakeholders.
Adapt your pitch to each stakeholder's communication style and level of technical depth. Use meetings, docs, or presentations as appropriate, and invite feedback to co-create solutions.
Incorporate feedback, adjust the proposal, and keep stakeholders informed of progress. Demonstrate quick wins and ongoing value to maintain buy-in.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.