“Once upon a time there was a stakeholder…” Oh, that didn’t grab you? How about “and the stakeholders lived happily ever after…” No go either? Probably because stakeholders aren’t real characters in a story. The catch-all character doesn’t catch your listener. When I ask clients (less bluntly than this), “Who cares that you exist?,” they give me a list that is part real characters (Arts-lovers! Landlords! Our faculty! Child care providers!) and part vague catch-alls (Supporters! Allies! Partners! Everyone!). How…
