Who really drives your business forward? If your first thought was “customers,” you’re only scratching the surface.

Your most important stakeholders aren’t just the people who buy from you—they’re the employees who keep operations running, the partners who expand your reach, and the industry influencers who shape your reputation.

Without a clear stakeholder strategy, businesses often hit growth roadblocks, struggle with misalignment, and miss valuable opportunities. That’s why at Establish, we use stakeholder mapping—a structured approach to identifying, engaging, and leveraging the right people to build momentum.

Here’s how you can do the same.

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What is Stakeholder Mapping?

Stakeholder mapping is the process of identifying everyone who influences your business, categorizing them by their level of impact, and creating intentional interactions to keep them engaged.

Done right, it helps you:

• Clarify priorities – Focus on the stakeholders that matter most.
• Improve communication – Align messaging and engagement strategies.
• Build momentum – Strengthen relationships that drive sustainable growth.

Using frameworks like EOS Traction and the Flywheel Effect, we help businesses pinpoint the right stakeholders and ensure they’re actively contributing to growth.

The 4 Key Stakeholder Groups

Most businesses have four primary stakeholder categories:

1. Internal Stakeholders (Your Team)

Your employees, leadership team, and board members are the engine of your business. If they’re not aligned, everything else falls apart.

Key Questions:

• Do all employees understand our mission and goals?
• Is leadership clear on their roles in business growth?
• Do we have a system for collecting and acting on internal feedback?

Action Steps:

• Establish a structured communication strategy (weekly meetings, scorecards, etc.).
• Use EOS’s Accountability Chart to clarify roles and responsibilities.
• Create a culture where employees feel invested in the company’s success.

2. Customers & Clients (Your Core Audience)

Your customers are obvious stakeholders, but not all customers are equal in terms of impact. Some drive more revenue, some influence others, and some help shape your brand reputation.

Key Questions:

• Who are our most valuable customers?
• What problems are we solving for them?
• How do we turn them into long-term advocates?

Action Steps:

• Segment customers by revenue, retention, and advocacy potential.
• Create feedback loops (reviews, surveys, check-ins).
• Leverage happy customers for testimonials and referrals.

3. External Partners & Vendors (Your Network)

From suppliers to industry partners, external stakeholders expand your reach and impact your ability to scale.

Key Questions:

• Which partners contribute most to our success?
• How can we strengthen these relationships?
• Are we maximizing co-branding and collaboration opportunities?

Action Steps:

• Identify strategic partners who align with your business goals.
• Develop long-term collaboration agreements.
• Ensure vendor relationships support scalability and efficiency.

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4. Industry & Community Influencers (Your Brand Advocates)

Your reputation doesn’t just come from what you say—it comes from what others say about you. This includes media, investors, influencers, and industry associations.

Key Questions:

• Who has the most influence over our reputation?
• How can we create relationships with key industry voices?
• Are we actively involved in relevant communities and networks?

Action Steps:

• Build relationships with industry leaders and associations.
• Develop a PR and thought leadership strategy.
• Engage with your community through events, sponsorships, or partnerships.

How to Build a Stakeholder Map in 3 Steps

1️⃣ List Your Stakeholders

Write down every individual or group that affects your business. Organize them into the four categories above.

2️⃣ Prioritize by Influence & Interest

Rank stakeholders based on:

• Influence: How much impact do they have on your success?
• ‍Interest: How invested are they in your business?

Plot them on a Stakeholder Matrix (High Influence vs. Low Influence, High Interest vs. Low Interest).

3️⃣ Develop an Engagement Plan

For high-influence, high-interest stakeholders, focus on deep relationship-building (regular check-ins, exclusive content, VIP treatment).

For low-influence, low-interest stakeholders, simple updates and touchpoints may be enough.

Why Stakeholder Mapping Matters for Scaling

If your business isn’t growing as expected, stakeholder misalignment is often the hidden problem. By identifying and engaging the right people, you create a Flywheel Effect—momentum that drives sustained success.

At Establish, we help companies map, prioritize, and engage stakeholders strategically, using proven frameworks like EOS to ensure everyone is moving in the same direction.

Ready to Identify Your Most Important Stakeholders?

If you’re unsure whether your business is engaging the right people—or you’re struggling with misalignment—we can help.

📩 Let’s build your stakeholder strategy together. Schedule a free consultation today.

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