How do you navigate complex approval processes with multiple stakeholders

Question

I’m working on a project that needs approval from multiple people, and it can get pretty frustrating when things slow down because everyone has different priorities and opinions. It’s tough to keep things moving without getting stuck in endless back-and-forth. How do you usually navigate complex approval processes—making sure everyone’s on the same page, avoiding delays, and keeping the project moving forward?

Answer 1

It can be overwhelming to get through convoluted approvals, though there are several things one can do to streamline the process.

• Set expectations clearly in advance of the approval process, the most important decision-makers involved, and lovely deadlines.
• Collect feedback quickly- Let everyone get their feedback in at once so they don't keep going back and forth.
• Use one place to track approval and consolidate feedback into one place.
• Follow up- Proactively - each out, give updates, and nudge when needed.
• Expect delays- Be firm on deadlines and escalate whenever needed to keep things moving along.

Ultimately, it's about keeping an organized process, managing expectations early, and making it easy for a stakeholder to take their time in reviewing and passing the approval.