Is Communicating the Strategy Enough?
Most people recognize that there’s no possible way to be successful if the organization’s goals and strategies aren’t well communicated. Often we see this implemented as a presentation at an annual meeting where all employees are gathered. Sadly, communication of strategy isn’t that simple. A presentation alone will certainly not drive successful execution. Perhaps we should be looking at the goal of this stage of strategy realization very differently. While it is important that the strategic plan be shared, simply communicating it leaves the strategy open to broad interpretation—not only the intent of the strategy, but also the role each of your people should play in execution. This gap leaves your organization open to risk that can be avoided with a more thoughtful approach.
Seek Understanding not Awareness
Ideally, every single person, on every single team, will understand each strategy; how the strategy will help the company achieve its goals, and what the company is depending on them to do to implement it. Each individual needs to grasp how their unique talents are going to be leveraged in order for the company to succeed and bring value to its customers. Managers need to explain the value contribution needed from every person. This is best accomplished both at the team level and then on an individual basis. You should encourage a healthy dialogue about what the company is relying on each team member to accomplish in order for the organization to achieve its goals. Together, you and each member of your team can discuss and agree on the best approaches to extract that value from the talented employee.
Are We Disrespecting Our People?
By doing these things you truly show respect for people. That’s at the heart of monzukuri wa hitozukuri. After all, it’s only through your people that you will achieve success. In contrast, when a leader simply presents the strategy and doesn’t invest time to ensure clarity of purpose and how each person on the team will be expected to contribute, they actually limit the team’s ability to succeed. Leaders create unnecessary boundaries around the team’s work and thinking by leaving them guessing about the “why” behind the strategy. Team members remain uncertain about how their work supports the strategy and this makes it challenging to prioritize their own work tasks. Managers are unwittingly limiting the entire company from successful strategy execution.
Enhancing Execution
Translate your strategies into results by harnessing the dynamic energy that comes from respect for people. Armed with a keen sense of what you are working towards and how you want to get there, your people will likely amaze you.