THEORY 60

EGAN’S SHADOW-SIDE THEORY

Use this to develop strategies for dealing with the different stakeholders who may support or hinder your change plans.

Gerard Egan argues that different approaches need to be taken to manage different stakeholders within an organisation. He categorises the stakeholders as follows:

Allies

Allies: Those who, if encouraged sufficiently, will support you.

Fellow travellers: Those who support the agenda for change but not necessarily you.

Fence sitters: Those whose allegiances are unclear, even to themselves.

Loose cannons: Those who you have no idea of which way they’ll jump.

Opponents: Those who oppose the agenda ...

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