Adviser to the Mayor

Stakeholder Power Base

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Stakeholder Power Base

A stakeholder power base is a group of individuals who play significant roles in creating and initiating policies to accomplish objectives in public administration. An effective public administrator will identify how to create a stakeholder power base and how to lead them in implementing policies.

Creating and initiating policies in public administration is best done with the support of a group rather than by an individual or from a single perspective. The group format helps ensure that the policy is implemented properly and encourage buy-in from key stakeholders.

Public administrators must identify the necessary stakeholders. Once the stakeholders are identified, effective leadership skills are required to bring them together to keep the group on task. One challenge of creating and leading a stakeholder power base is that stakeholders represent different interests and have different motivations. Leaders must know how to bring everyone together and maintain teamwork for a common goal. Important leadership skills include understanding group behavior, workplace conflict, leadership theories, and understanding how power and politics affect decision making.