The document outlines a mentoring process for organizations to improve stakeholder engagement and communications. It describes who is eligible, which includes sole traders, NGOs, and charities. Participants receive a communications framework template, 7 mentoring sessions to customize it for their needs, and advice on communications. The mentoring aims to set clear parameters, prioritize stakeholders, reduce duplication, and open discussions. Sessions cover identifying stakeholders, objectives, channels, and creating a strategic plan. There is a cost based on organization size to participate in the weekly sessions.

1. Stakeholder engagement and communications
framework: overview of mentoring process

2. Who is eligible for mentoring?
Any individual or company that spends a
disproportionate amount of time on
marketing and communicating with its
stakeholders and customers
~ Sole traders ~ NGOs
~ Micro-businesses ~ Charities
~ Professional consultants ~ Social enterprises

3. What do they get?
~ A free stakeholder and communications framework template
and toolkits
~ Seven mentoring sessions that will be used to tailor the
template framework to the business needs and train relevant
members of the team on how to put it to use
~ Creative and strategic advice on how to improve and
prioritise marketing and stakeholder communications activity
~ Access to communications resources and the Tarakin
contacts directory

4. How does this add value?
~ Sets out clear communications parameters so that everyone in the organisation can
proactively communicate clearly, confidently and consistently
~ Provides a prioritisation structure that ensures the company doesn’t spend more resource
than necessary on communicating with a particulate stakeholder or audience group
~ Produces a framework that can grow with the organisation and capture all
communications ideas and activities regardless of whether the timing is right
~ Sets out transparent guidance for all external agencies and suppliers, which reduces the
time spent briefing these partners and makes the measurement of proactive activity easier
~ Provides a unique platform for opening discussions with the organisation's most important
stakeholders and inviting them to be part of the creative business development process
~ Reduces the possibility and likelihood of duplication of efforts in terms of stakeholder
management and communications activity

5. Session breakdown*
Pre-mentoring: Create a template framework based on company vision
Session 1: Stakeholder identification and prioritisation
Session 2: Issues monitoring and key message definition
Session 3: Identification of central communications objectives
Session 4: Appraisal of communications channels and spokespeople
Session 5: Creation of a strategic communications management plan
Session 6: Clarification of approval process and budget management
Session 7: Creative brainstorm / Review of knowledge management systems
Post-mentoring: Satisfaction follow up and discussion about possible next steps
* The total number of sessions and topic breakdown of sessions depends on
the sector, remit and size of the company being mentored.

6. Format for each session
Step 1: (pre-session) Client completes a short exercise in advance of the session so that the
session can be structured accordingly
Step 2: (10mins) Short discussion about the theory behind the exercise and clarification of the
main goal of the session
Step 3: (30mins) An intensive ‘brain-dump’ of information relevant to the particular session
Step 4: (35mins) Used to sort, organise or prioritise the information identified in Step 3
Step 5: (10mins) Mop-up discussion about the conclusions possible next steps
Step 6: (5mins) Overview of next session and pre-session exercise
Step 7: (post-session) Client updates framework with the relevant information from the
session and adds any additional information that is deemed relevant. This is uploaded to
the relevant Dropbox (online shared folder service: www.dropbox.com)

7. Strategic stakeholder prioritisation
Defining Implementing Strategic
Tarakin prioritisation tool
strategy strategy influence
1 1: Negotiate 1: Imperative 1: High
2 2: Engage 2: Active 2: Medium
3 3: Inform 3: Passive 3: Low
4 4: n/a 4: n/a 4: n/a

8. Allocating time and resource to
stakeholder levels
Communicate with this group Invite these stakeholders to
the way that they want to be face-to-face, group meetings.
communicated with. I.e. Ask If they can’t make it, then
them how they want to engage. Primary follow up with them later. If
they persistently don’t attend
then work with them to
Secondary reassess their categorisation.
These stakeholders
should be invited to
have a two-way Use linear
dialogue either though Tertiary communications for
community tours, this stakeholder
open days or online grouping, and
blogging and social ensure all other
media platforms. stakeholders are
Mass facilitated prior to
attributing resource.

9. Structuring communications
Key messages and top lines to use
Headline
Origin of need, timing, measures, milestones,
policy base etc
Context
Point of parity/difference. Sector
comparisons, illustrations, case studies etc
Comparison
Evidence, intricate explanation, insights
and analysis into methodology, review
Detail of governance etc

10. Stakeholder prioritisation and
messaging are inversely related
As required, the company
can then consciously
Detail move tertiary
>>> Stakeholder education pathway >>>
stakeholders up the scale
Primary
to level they feel is most
appropriate
Comparison
Secondary
As soon as a
mass
stakeholder
Context makes contact
Tertiary with the
company, they
elevate
Headlines themselves to
the level of
Mass tertiary
stakeholder
Never provide more information with stakeholders than necessary. It is not only a
waste of resources, the value of information shared will also be diminished.

11. Perpetual loop builds reputation
Credibility Continuity
Education

12. Contract and costs
~ Cost: One off payment based on the number of employees being coached at
one time as well as the size of the organisation and the sector it sits within.
~ All sessions should be booked in advance. It is recommended that these take
place on the same day, time and venue each week.
~ Tarakin will issue an project plan, contract and invoice as soon as the client
decides to proceed.
~ Payment should be made in full by bank transfer in advance of the pre-session
template being tailored and sent to the client.
~ 48 hours notice is required to reschedule a session.