SCUP
Conferences & Programs

Workshop

Building Buy-in for Planning: Dealing With Resistance and Gaining Support

March 11, 2026 - April 8, 2026 (weekly sessions)
Online Course | 12:00–1:00 PM Eastern
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Are your planning initiatives hitting roadblocks due to stakeholder resistance? You’re not alone. Even the most brilliant plans will fail when key stakeholders aren’t fully committed to the process.

That’s why integrated planning emphasizes the importance of stakeholder buy-in for planning. In this course, you’ll learn strategies for assessing stakeholder buy-in, troubleshooting resistance to planning, and determining strategies to build support.

Combining interactive live online sessions with asynchronous learning, this course emphasizes practical strategies and peer-to-peer learning through collaborative activities. You will share best practices, learn from each other’s experiences, and develop tailored approaches to overcome buy-in obstacles.

You’ll leave this course with actionable tools to build stakeholder buy-in across diverse groups, from leadership to front-line staff, empowering your planning process to drive institutional success. Join us to connect, collaborate, and conquer your buy-in challenges.

What You’ll Explore

  • Defining the “why” for planning.
  • Why stakeholder buy-in matters.
  • Mapping and analyzing stakeholders.
  • Common causes of stakeholder resistance to planning.
  • Methods for learning about stakeholder perspectives and priorities.
  • Ways to better understand stakeholder perspectives.
  • What’s needed for buy-in.
  • Adapting the “why” to diverse stakeholder audiences.
  • Diagnosing the sources of stakeholder resistance to planning.
  • Methods for addressing resistance.
  • Determining approaches to engage resistant stakeholders in planning.

Course Outcomes

  • Anticipate stakeholder dynamics related to a planning process by mapping roles, priorities, and support for planning.
  • Apply an empathy-building technique to understand stakeholder priorities, values, and perspectives.
  • Use what you learn about stakeholder priorities and perspectives to outline a case for planning tailored to resonate with that stakeholder.
  • Diagnose stakeholder resistance and develop effective approaches to engage resistant stakeholders in planning.

Key Integrated Planning Competency Addressed

  • CHAMPION PLANNING – Building Buy-In & Commitment

Learn more about these and other integrated planning competencies.

Course Schedule – 5 Online Meetings

We’ll be meeting online on Wednesdays from 12:00–1:00 PM (ET):

  • March 11
  • March 18
  • March 25
  • April 1
  • April 8

In addition to the live sessions, you’ll complete weekly asynchronous activities (plan for about 1–2 hours each week).

Attendance at all face-to-face meetings is expected. If you anticipate a conflict, please contact registration@scup.org.

Facilitator:

Dana Prymak
Dana Prymak
Associate Director, Strategic Planning and ForesightThompson Rivers University