Stakeholder Sabotage: How to Stop Your Best Ideas from Getting Killed

When I stumbled upon this gem on my LinkedIn feed, I knew I had to dive in immediately.

It's a brilliant piece by Velocity Partners, and if you’re short on time, I highly recommend you read it [here]. But if you’re curious about my take, stick around.

The article masterfully articulates a scenario I’ve seen play out countless times—a situation so urgent, it’s a wonder more people aren’t talking about it. Thankfully, Doug Kessler decided to shine a light on it.

Too often, marketing professionals find themselves in a frustrating cycle. They’re passionate about their ideas, only to watch them get misunderstood or dismissed by senior executives—people who’ve often climbed the corporate ladder without ever having to think deeply about marketing.

Sound familiar? If you’re in marketing it should, because it happens all the time.

These execs, now in positions of power, feel entitled to judge the work produced by marketing teams. They second-guess your expertise, undermine your decisions, and, worst of all, kill your best ideas before they ever see the light of day.

I’ll be honest—I’ve been there. It’s infuriating. And, if I’m being completely candid, I still find myself in these situations from time to time.

But here’s the kicker: The first mistake we make is expecting them to act any differently.

Wait, what?

Yes, you heard that right. This is the first of seven crucial revelations.

It’s not their job to be marketing experts.

That’s your job.

(And mine.)

This shift in perspective changes everything.

The real challenge—the one that could make or break your career—is mastering the art of syncing with your stakeholders. This might just be the most critical task you (and I) will ever tackle.

Without giving away all the insights from Kessler’s piece, I’ll leave you with this: Learn to "stake" your claim with stakeholders before they drive one through the heart of your best work. Actively managing these relationships is the key to ensuring your most brilliant ideas don’t just survive—they thrive.

So, take a lesson from Doug Kessler, and start transforming your frustrations into victories.