What do you do if your executive team struggles to effectively communicate their vision and goals?

Assessment: Identify the root causes of the communication breakdown. Is it due to unclear vision, lack of alignment, ineffective communication channels, or other factors?

Delve deep into identifying communication gaps: - Conduct a thorough assessment to pinpoint breakdowns. - Analyze breakdowns in various contexts, such as meetings or written communication. - Root causes could range from unclear vision to inconsistent messaging. - Understanding nuances helps tailor targeted improvement strategies. - Viewing gaps as opportunities for refinement fosters a culture of continuous improvement and strengthens team cohesion.

Working out how a leadership team has failed to communicate their vision by first "assessing gaps" is the business equivalent of Evil Knievel looking back on a 25 bus jump from his blood soaked stretcher and trying to work out where the ramp should have been. Effective communication is mostly in the planning and preparation. The vision should be crystal clear. The operational strategy aligns with the vision and should be easily articulated. How the operational strategy translates into team and individual objectives should be a "clear line of sight" - and use some form of consistent structure like OKRs. Leadership teams don't need to end up like Evil Knievel when communicating the vision - it's all in the preparation.

Open Dialogue: Encourage open discussions within the executive team to address concerns and understand each member's perspectives. This can help in identifying common ground and areas of disagreement.

Encourage clarity in communication by simplifying language and utilizing visual aids. Clear articulation of vision and goals fosters alignment and empowers teams to execute effectively.

Effective communication has more cornerstones than a Dutch Star Shaped Fort, clarity is just one. And clarity is more of an essential hygiene factor than a true enabler. My fort would have a few more cornerstones: Empathy - understand the audience or the vision will mean nothing Alignment - all the way to individual targets Consistency - is king, comms become stronger with consistency Authenticity - leadership must also believe Inspiration - paint a picture, draw a postcard from the future - dull doesn't work Inclusivity - involve the organisation to avoid the ivory tower syndrome Relevancy - make the vision real and accessible Succinctness - apply the 30 second elevator pitch rule

Clarify Vision: Ensure that the vision and goals are clearly defined and understood by all members of the executive team. This may require revisiting and refining the vision statement to make it more concise and compelling.

If lack of communication skills is holding back a leadership team from communicating it's own vision then I suspect the leadership team needs a change. Public speaking, engendering trust, comms writing, channel use, comms timing, listening, stakeholder management, conflict resolution, instilling inspiration and interest, relevancy… are all skills that should sit within the leadership team and not necessarily all with the CEO or one person.

Communication is key: Focus on public speaking, active listening, and writing workshops. Enhanced skills empower executives to articulate vision and goals effectively. Improved communication mitigates conflicts stemming from miscommunication. Prioritizing skill development fosters a culture of growth and excellence & additionally, investing in communication skills training to empower executives in articulating vision, resolving conflicts, and fostering a culture of growth.

No Vision will be believed or entertained without trust in the Leadership team selling that vision. Trust is built with empathy, delivering promises, listening and acting, humility, demonstrable integrity, delivering early wins, empowering individuals, demonstrating competence, being consistent and being reliable. Trust can be built quickly. Trust can exist from the outset depending on culture and individual experience…. Or, for some, trust can take a long time to develop. Leaders should be aware and tailor comms appropriately.

Trust is soul of any team, organization: Cultivate transparency and openness among executives. Create an environment where expressing thoughts is safe and valued. Trust is nurtured through vulnerability and acknowledging gaps in understanding. Embracing openness fosters fluid and effective communication within the team.

Alignment of objectives in management is pivotal: - Ensure all team members understand and are committed to shared goals. - Regularly communicate objectives to maintain clarity and focus. - Foster collaboration to ensure individual goals align with organizational objectives. - Establish accountability measures to track progress and adjust as needed. - Alignment of objectives maximizes efficiency and drives success across the organization.