Strategy is an essential part of any organization's success, and it's important that everyone in the company is involved in the process of creating and implementing it. When everyone is invested in the strategy, it's more likely to be successful, as it reflects the collective wisdom and expertise of the entire team. Not only that, but engaging all team members in the strategy process can lead to greater buy-in, increased motivation, and higher levels of innovation.
So how can you make strategy everyone's job? Here are some tips:
1. Make the strategy accessible and transparent
One of the key challenges of making strategy everyone's job is ensuring that everyone has the information they need to contribute. This means making the strategy transparent and accessible to everyone in the organization.
Traditionally, companies have shared a strategy document with the entire team, either via email or on a shared drive. This ensures that everyone has access to the same information and can easily reference it as needed. It's also a good idea to hold regular meetings to discuss progress and updates on the strategy. This could be in the form of a weekly or monthly team meeting, or even just a quick stand-up meeting at the start of each day.
Strategy documents, however, are static and can quickly become out of date. Many of the most successful organizations use purpose-built strategy execution software to track progress and key metrics. Dashboards and other visual aids display and share strategy information prominently, making it easy for everyone to stay informed about how the company is doing and what actions are being taken to achieve the strategic goals.
2. Encourage participation and feedback
Another key to making strategy everyone's job is to encourage participation and feedback from all team members. This could involve holding regular strategy meetings where everyone is invited to contribute their ideas and insights, or setting up a suggestion box where team members can submit their ideas anonymously.
It's important to create a culture where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, even if they differ from the prevailing view. This could involve things like using tools like Google Forms to gather anonymous feedback, or setting up a dedicated email address where team members can send their ideas.
It's also a good idea to have a dedicated team or person responsible for gathering and reviewing feedback, and for making recommendations based on that feedback. This could be a dedicated strategy team, or it could be the responsibility of a manager or leader in the organization.
3. Foster a culture of continuous improvement
To truly make strategy everyone's job, it's important to foster a culture of continuous improvement. This means encouraging team members to regularly review and assess the effectiveness of the strategy, and to make recommendations for improvements as needed.
One way to do this is to establish a continuous improvement team or process. This could be a dedicated team of employees who are responsible for identifying areas for improvement and making recommendations to the leadership team. Alternatively, you could encourage all team members to be proactive in identifying areas for improvement, and provide them with the tools and resources they need to do so.
It's also a good idea to set aside dedicated time for team members to focus on improvement efforts. This could be in the form of a dedicated "innovation day" or "hackathon," or it could be built into the regular work schedule as dedicated time for continuous improvement activities.
4. Empower team members to make decisions
One of the most effective ways to make strategy everyone's job is to empower team members to make decisions that align with the company's overall strategy. This means giving them the autonomy and resources they need to take ownership of their work and to drive the company forward.
This could involve things like delegating decision-making authority to team members, providing training and development opportunities, and offering support and mentorship as needed. For example, you could establish a mentorship program where team members can work with more experienced colleagues to develop their skills and knowledge. This not only helps to build the capabilities of team members, but it also fosters a culture of collaboration and mutual support.
Another important aspect of empowering team members is ensuring that they have the resources they need to be effective. This could include things like access to the right tools and technology, as well as support from management. For example, if a team member has a great idea for a new product or service, it's important to provide them with the support they need to make that idea a reality. This could include things like access to funding, marketing support, or other resources.
5. Recognize and reward contributions
Finally, it's important to recognize and reward team members who contribute to the strategy process. This could involve things like offering bonuses or other incentives, or simply acknowledging and thanking team members for their contributions.
There are many different ways to recognize and reward contributions, and it's important to find what works best for your organization. For example, you could establish an employee recognition program where team members can nominate their colleagues for outstanding contributions. Alternatively, you could offer incentives like gift cards or other rewards for team members who come up with innovative ideas or make significant contributions to the strategy process.
Whatever form it takes, it's important to recognize and reward team members for their contributions. When people feel that their contributions are valued and recognized, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged in the strategy process.
Spider Impact Makes Strategy Everyone's Job
In an era of increasing digital transformation and distributed/remote workforces, strategic alignment has become more important than ever. Spider Impact makes it easy to get your team aligned to organizational strategy and goals. With Spider Impact you can:
- Communicate your strategy to everyone in the organization so all employees understand how they contribute to big-picture goals
- Assign ownership and accountability to each team member
- View initiative dependencies across objectives, departments, and teams to ensure you meet your goals
- Improve team interaction and communication to drive better results through collaboration
Try Spider Impact for yourself. Sign up for a free test drive or demo today.
