As an executive leader, you are responsible for creating and communicating a new vision or strategy that aligns with your organization's goals and values. But how do you share it across departments in a way that inspires, engages, and motivates your teams? Here are some tips to help you succeed in this important task.
Before you craft your message, you need to understand who you are talking to and what they care about. Different departments may have different perspectives, priorities, and challenges that affect how they receive and implement your vision or strategy. Do some research and analysis to identify the needs, expectations, and concerns of each department. Use this information to tailor your message and address any potential barriers or objections.
?? In my experience, departmental intricacies play a vital role. ?? Data-Driven Communication Utilize data to highlight the relevance and benefits of the strategy. It ensures a factual, convincing pitch. ?? Cross-Departmental Collaboration Facilitate sessions where departments discuss their concerns, ensuring a cohesive approach to strategy execution. ?? Tailored Toolkits Develop customized resources for each department. This helps in the seamless adoption of the strategy. ?? Encourage Feedback Loops Establish mechanisms for continuous feedback, helping adapt and refine the strategy in real-time. ?? Remember, a well-tailored, collaborative approach ensures optimal buy-in from all departments.
Some ways I get started: 1) Know my audience 2) Understand the journey 3) Stay positive 4) Add value 5) Ask questions 6) Consider both sides 7) Geek out on research 8) Mirror the room to echo excellence or blind spots 9) Use humor as a relatable building block 10) Engage with others content
Before crafting a message or a new direction, I would hold a few sessions either small groups or individually and listen to what the needs, perspective, personal and professional goals of my team might be, I would also be forth coming as to what I am doing to lend to the inclusion and importance of their input and values. In my experience this is the ultimate team building endeavor nothing says your more important than input for goals and direction. As a leader I only value myself with one one vote if you will and my own perspective singly…. I find with enough open dialogue, a true and cooperative direction can be borne out of this with the backing and enthusiasm of the entire team….
Your vision or strategy should be clear, concise, and compelling. Use a simple and memorable framework that explains what you want to achieve, why it matters, how you will do it, and what benefits it will bring. Avoid jargon, technical details, and vague statements that may confuse or bore your audience. Instead, use stories, examples, and analogies that illustrate your points and connect with your audience's emotions and values.
Some ways I get started is to: 1) Know the language of the audience 2) Respect established framework 3) Go down the idea maze 4) Use business culture as a contextual tool 5) Be willing to have fun 6) Concise and thorough can co-exist
-Succinctly identify the problems or opportunities at a high level and explore what the company hopes to prevent or achieve. The organization should be able to explain how the changes affect the bottom line. -Provide a realistic timeline of completion. Creating unrealistic goals or projections increase stress throughout the company, the chance of failure, reduce confidence in the leadership, and increase the likelihood of high attrition rates.
Depending on the size, structure, and culture of your organization, you may need to use different channels and formats to share your vision or strategy across departments. For example, you may use a combination of online and offline methods, such as webinars, podcasts, newsletters, presentations, workshops, and meetings. Choose the channels and formats that suit your message, your audience, and your goals. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each option, such as reach, frequency, feedback, and engagement.
Content is king: Subject matter passions need: 1) Channels of expression 2) Tools to create synergy 3) Platforms to build 4) Visually and audible stimulation 5) Trending growth patterns to emulate 6) My podcast focuses on bringing out the wins and losses that help users engage 7) Newsletters and slides keep the audience informed and refreshed 8) I solicit feedback
Sharing your vision or strategy is not a one-way communication. You need to involve and empower your teams to participate, contribute, and co-create the change you want to see. Encourage feedback, questions, and suggestions from your teams and listen to their input. Acknowledge their contributions and recognize their achievements. Provide them with the resources, support, and autonomy they need to implement your vision or strategy. Build trust and rapport with your teams and celebrate your progress and success together.
-Solicit feedback from the bottom up. As a winning strategy, the message must show a robust understanding of what is actually feasible. For instance, socializing changes by holding town halls with various components can speak to more granular processes and allows the organization to collect feedback from diverse stakeholders. This allows the organization to ensure that the finer details are not ignored for the sake of meeting a deadline. -Ensure the level of support and resources are available to each of the components to successfully pivot. Change in an organization creates a whirlwind of activity. It is important to find a moment to celebrate the milestones. It fosters support for the company goals and encourages employee contribution.
Communication is an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and adjustment. You need to measure the effectiveness of your communication and check how well your teams understand and embrace your vision or strategy. Use various methods to collect and analyze data , such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and metrics. Identify any gaps, issues, or opportunities for improvement and adjust your communication accordingly. Keep your teams informed of any changes and updates and provide them with regular feedback and guidance.
Data is the new oil both as a commodity and key component to keeping a world class engine firing on cylinders. Analytics empower the “thought leaders voice” to be heard and released into the proper channels to build, equip and empower.
Communication is a key skill for any executive leader, especially when it comes to sharing a new vision or strategy across departments. You need to constantly learn and improve your communication skills to adapt to different situations, audiences, and challenges. Seek feedback from your peers, mentors, and coaches and learn from their experiences and best practices. Read books, articles, and blogs on communication and leadership and apply the tips and techniques that work for you. Attend courses, workshops, and events that help you develop and enhance your communication skills.
1) Leaders are readers. 2) Content creators are consumers. 3) Builders have to have builders. 4) Leader aren’t just born, they’re created as a sum total of their greatest mentors. 5) Iron sharpens iron.
A company, in the pivot, should consider that a successful organization is made up of successful teams collaborating to achieve a shared objective. Teams often consist of seasoned leaders invested in the previous vision or strategy. They’ve developed successful processes to tackle the old challenges and they’ve dedicated staff and resources to accomplish goals and objectives deemed most important by the organization. So, a change in the status quo can prove to be overwhelming and difficult to understand. It may even create a sense of panic and instability throughout the organization which could ultimately decrease the quality work, productivity, and work life balance for the organization’s most important asset—it’s employees.