The Impact of Stakeholder Engagement: Insights From Our Partners

In our video series, “Transformative Collaboration for Enduring Impact: Conversations with Our Partners,” the leaders share one common thread throughout their interviews. That is the impact of engaging stakeholders in the process.

Reverend Dr. Dumas Harshaw, Jr., former Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, emphasizes the importance of involving the entire congregation—not just the leadership—through tools such as surveys and focus groups. He explains that this inclusive approach was critical to the church’s envisioning process, which required full buy-in from everyone involved. “You have to include the people and value their input,” Harshaw notes. When asked about significant outcomes from their partnership with The INS Group, Harshaw shared that many members who had previously been on the sidelines were now actively engaged in the church’s mission and activities. He observed that this process brought forth individuals with both the skills and the heart for ministry, creating an exciting new pool of potential leaders within the church.

Emily Adams, CEO of the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA), discusses the importance of engaging a diverse range of members within the organization—from early-career students to seasoned professionals—to understand their unique needs and collaboratively shape a clear, actionable plan for the future. This approach emphasized key areas such as strategic marketing, progress tracking, and identifying opportunities for growth. “We’ve started measuring our impact and outcomes, and the progress we’re seeing is tangible. That’s been a significant and transformative change,” she shares.

Executive Director of the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA) Monika Johnson-Hostler, shares how The INS Group’s tailored approach, which involved using surveys to address the specific needs of each community group, made a significant impact. She highlights feedback from members of one program, who expressed surprise and appreciation, saying, “We’re so surprised that they would ask us questions about what works in our community.” Monika contrasts this with the common practice of imposing solutions without genuine community engagement, emphasizing the value of truly listening and collaborating with the people being served.

President of Peace Hill at Avila Terry Allebaugh emphasizes the critical role of building trust with stakeholders, especially those who may not always voice their opinions but deeply desire to be heard. This trust fosters meaningful engagement and strengthens the foundation for successful partnerships. Allebaugh adds that this approach has empowered others to step into leadership roles, allowing him to “step back and become more of a member instead of the leader.” This shift has created a more balanced and collaborative dynamic within the organization.