Toolkit P5- Stakeholder mapping

A map of essential stakeholders
for you career path

STAKEHOLDER MAPPING

1 hour

A large sheet of paper, at least A3 size, or a whiteboard.
Pens and markers in different colours.
Sticky notes in different colours.
Tape or adhesive putty to attach the paper to a wall.

What is this tool and what is its purpose and benefit?

The stakeholder map visualises the individuals, groups and organisations that are connected to a person's career path. It clarifies their roles and value, as well as the relationships between them. Depending on the individual, these stakeholders may include employment offices, trainers, mentors, people in similar positions, social workers, educational organisations, and potential employers. Understanding this network provides a clearer picture of the employment opportunities, support and expectations that may influence career decisions.

Steps for using this tool

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

STEP 8

Make a list of all the people and organisations that are important to you and who could contribute to or help with your career development. This may include careers advisers, trainers, employment officers, family members, potential employers and healthcare staff. You can use any method to take notes.

Take a large sheet of paper or a whiteboard and draw two or more nested circles on it. Write your name at the top, followed by your career goal as a subheading below it.

Write the names of your stakeholders on sticky notes, putting one name on each note. Then, place the sticky notes on your stakeholder map. Place the most important ones in the core and inner circles. Add the rest of the names to the map based on their importance to your career path, placing the least important ones in the outermost circle.

Add a sticky note for each stakeholder, describing their importance and impact to you and your career path.

Review the importance and impact of each stakeholder on your career path. Arrange the notes on the map until you are happy with the result.

Visualise your relationships with the stakeholders. Use coloured pens, symbols and numbers to show how important they are to you and to your career goal at the moment, and in which order. You can also use symbols to represent their roles and indicate how difficult it is to reach them.

Once you have identified the relationships between yourself and your stakeholders, consider what information the stakeholder map reveals. Are there any important players missing? What requires attention? Are there any overlaps? What else does your stakeholder map reveal? Write your findings down as a list.

You can return to your stakeholder map at any time to add events or other important information relating to each stakeholder.