Stakeholder Ghosting: When Your Emails Get Left on Read
READ TIME - 5 MINUTES
“Anyone heard back from the finance team?” asked Layla, peering hopefully over her monitor.
Josh shook his head, scrolling through his inbox. “Nope. Sent them a follow-up last week. Still radio silence.”
Layla sighed, rolling her eyes. “I’ve sent two emails to Nala and Joe, I’ve been messaging them, called, and even tried the old ‘reply-all’ trick. FML. At this point, I’d have more luck getting a response from my teenager.”
Josh grinned. “Maybe they’re all on a secret retreat somewhere. Or they’ve just seen the subject line and thought, ‘Not today, thanks.’”
Layla laughed, but the frustration was real. “If I get left on read one more time, I’m going to start sending carrier pigeons. Or maybe a singing telegram.”
The Real Cost of Stakeholder Ghosting
We’ve all been there, waiting, hoping, refreshing your inbox, only to be met with the deafening silence of “no reply.”
In the world of change, unresponsive stakeholders can stall progress, delay key decisions, and leave you feeling like you’re shouting into the void.
And let’s be honest, mid-winter in Australia (flu season, with half the team juggling school holidays or dreaming of Queensland sun) isn’t exactly peak motivation season.
But here’s the thing: ghosting is rarely personal.
People are busy, overwhelmed, or just not sure how to respond.
The trick is to break the cycle - without nagging, chasing, or losing your cool.
The “Re-Engage with Curiosity” Approach
What it is:
A refreshing way to restart the conversation by showing genuine curiosity and making it easy for stakeholders to re-engage.
The key: No guilt trips, just connection.
Why it works:
When you approach with curiosity (instead of frustration), you lower defences and invite a real response.
It shifts the dynamic from “Why are you ignoring me?” to “How can I help make this easier for you?”
How to do it:
1. Switch up your subject line or channel
If your usual email isn’t working, try a quick Teams chat, a text, a phone call or casually swing by their desk with a coffee for them.
Sometimes a change in approach is all it takes.
2. Lead with curiosity, not accusation
Instead of “Just following up…” try:
“Hey, I noticed we haven’t locked this in yet. Anything getting in the way?”
“Is there a better time or way to chat about this?”
“I know it’s a busy time, so let me know if you need anything from me to make this easier.”
3. Make it easy to respond
Offer a simple yes/no question, a quick poll, or suggest a 10-minute check-in.
Reduce the effort required to get things moving.
4. Acknowledge the season
A little empathy goes a long way: “I know it’s school holidays/half the team’s off sick and everyone’s flat out, so just nudge me if you need more time.”
Pro tip: If you finally get a response, thank them and keep it light.
Remember: You’re building a relationship, not keeping score.
The Bottom Line
Stakeholder ghosting happens to the best of us.
By re-engaging with curiosity and making it easy to respond, you’ll get things moving again, without the stress (or the carrier pigeons).
Persistence with empathy and openness is your secret weapon.
That’s it for this week.
Next Tuesday, we’re exploring the classic “Not My Job” roadblock and how to turn reluctant team members into micro-owners of change.
Don’t miss it!
See you then,
Team EVER
PS: Someone pass this on to you?
Nice, you’ve got cool friends! Subscribe here to snag your own practical change insights every Tuesday.