Can you tell your organisational story?
Everyone is under so much pressure now that sometimes fundamentals can lapse unnoticed. I am finding that if I ask senior managers to tell me the plain English story about what their organisation is on about, and what it is trying to do now, and into the future, I tend to get either a blank stare, referred to a strategic planning document, a lot of management speak, or a less than well formed story.
I believe it is vital for all senior staff in particular to be able to tell the story of their organisation, or at least their part of it. It needs to be reframed for each audience, and needs to have values, facts and meaning entwined in a way that people can quickly “get” what the leader thinks the place is all about. This story needs to be regularly updated and shared at any opportunity. This is NOT the same as citing central strategic planning speak.
In the past week I have seen staff surveys from two organisations I will be working with that make it clear staff feel senior people are not visible enough. I have a sneaking suspicion that one of the reasons for lack of visibility is that senior people aren’t always sure what they would be talking about if they visited. Having a clear, plain, understandable story about what’s going on gives you a useful focus for managing by walking around.
I issue the challenge to individual leaders to sit in your office with the door closed and tape on your phone what comes out of your mouth if you imagine I am sitting in front of you asking you for your current story. My challenge for executive teams is to try the same thing as a group – my experience is that many teams don’t quickly land the same story.
Even better, organise a time for me to come to test you quietly to see what happens, and to identify any gaps in your ability as a leader to tell a clear story about what you are here to do.
Author: Denise Picton
Categories: Leading & Managing, Political Savvy, Self Development,