Blog
Top tips for commissioning stakeholder research
22 October 2025
By Catherine Griffin, Head of Research
When it comes to reputation, relationships and trust, stakeholder insight is one of the most powerful tools available to any organisation. Yet many teams struggle to get full value from their research – not because the findings aren’t interesting, but because the process isn’t set up for success from the start.
Here are my top tips to make sure your stakeholder research delivers clarity, confidence and impact.
- Start with why.
Before diving into questions or data, get clear on purpose. What’s the problem to solve? What decisions will the research inform? Clarity here shapes everything else from the stakeholders you speak to, to the questions you ask. - Write a clear brief.
A strong brief is half the battle. Define what you need to know, who you need to hear from, and how you’ll use the results. Be upfront about timing, budget and expectations – it saves time (and headaches) later. - Choose the right partner.
Pick an agency that understands your world and can engage senior audiences confidently. The best partners go beyond numbers to help you interpret findings, spot risks and uncover opportunities. - Remember: research is communication.
Every interaction with a stakeholder sends a message. Be transparent about why you’re asking for their views and how their feedback will be used - it builds trust and credibility. - Turn insight into action.
Don’t let the results gather dust. Ask for outputs that work for your audiences – from concise dashboards to debrief workshops. Link findings with other data like media or performance metrics to see the bigger picture.
At Echo, we believe stakeholder research is about more than measuring reputation – it’s about strengthening it.
Download the first in our Measuring What Matters How-To Series: How-to commission successful stakeholder research to find out more about turning intelligence into impact.
Get in touch to find out more.
