In today’s fast-moving business world, stakeholder management isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a survival skill. As a user researcher, you’re often juggling different teams, priorities, and expectations, all while trying to keep your work impactful. Whether you’re the lone researcher at a company or part of a scrappy team, how well you manage stakeholders can make or break your research.

Let’s break down the art of stakeholder engagement—what works, what doesn’t, and how to make research a force multiplier in your organization.

Understanding Who You’re Dealing With

First things first: know your stakeholders. Product managers, engineers, execs, designers—each group has different priorities and levels of interest in research. The key? Figure out what they actually care about and meet them where they are.

Amanda Gelb and Jen Blatz stress the importance of stakeholder interviews to uncover these insights. Ask questions like, “How do you currently engage with research?” or “What’s most valuable to you?” The more you understand their needs, the easier it is to align your work with what matters to them.

Building Trust (So You're More Than Just "The Research Person")

The best researchers aren’t just delivering insights—they’re embedded in the company’s decision-making process. That means showing up beyond research projects: join cross-functional meetings, learn the company lingo, and engage with stakeholders before you need something from them.

At the end of the day, you’re not just selling research—you’re buying into what others care about. When stakeholders see you as a partner instead of a service provider, collaboration gets a whole lot easier.

Getting Stakeholders Involved (Without Overcomplicating It)

One of the biggest mistakes researchers make? Treating stakeholder involvement as an afterthought. The best insights don’t just land in an inbox—they’re co-created.

That doesn’t mean dragging every stakeholder into every step of the process. Instead, be strategic. Amanda suggests involving them early—when shaping research questions—and later, during synthesis, when insights are being distilled. Jen adds that giving stakeholders a say in the research direction ensures their most pressing questions actually get answered.

At some point, you’re going to hit resistance—whether it’s a stakeholder questioning your findings, pushing back on research priorities, or just being disengaged. When that happens, transparency and communication are your best tools.

Set clear expectations early on, align on research goals, and don’t be afraid to have tough conversations. The more you involve stakeholders in defining the research, the fewer surprises (and conflicts) you’ll face when sharing the results.

Proving the Value of Research

One of the most effective ways to get buy-in? Show—not just tell—how research moves the needle. Jen shares a great example of how even quick, scrappy research can dramatically streamline development and save resources.

Make your insights digestible. Highlight the impact. Turn findings into action, not just reports. When stakeholders see the ROI of research, they’ll be the ones advocating for more of it.

Key Takeaways for Solo and First-Time Researchers

  1. Prioritize Ruthlessly – Not every research request deserves your time. Focus on work that drives the biggest impact.
  2. Build Scalable Processes – Create repeatable frameworks so you’re not reinventing the wheel every time.
  3. Invest in Relationships – Strong stakeholder relationships pay dividends. The more they trust you, the more they’ll support and champion research.

Final Thoughts

Stakeholder management isn’t just about making research easier—it’s about making it stick. When you engage the right people at the right time, research stops being a “nice-to-have” and becomes a must-have for decision-making.

Whether you’re flying solo or part of a growing team, these principles will help you build influence, drive impact, and make research a core part of how your company operates.

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