Alignment and engagement
Engage employees by clearly delegating authority and accountability. This Cornerstone is also about aligning the different layers of the organization and then empowering people to act upon mutual goals. Involve your people in the dialogue, help them understand your strategy and how they can contribute to its success. Alignment, or buy-in, is the willingness of others to actively support and participate in your plan. Alignment can’t happen without clear communication.
Engage your people and be the change you want to see!
Strategic leaders must become the change they want to see. Engage your people and end the excuses for not achieving strategic goals. Employees can focus on getting things done when it is clear who has authority to make decisions. Rather than waiting to be told what to do or for permission to act, employees should know when to make decisions on their own to achieve shared goals. When roles and competencies are clear, leaders can use their employees’ skills optimally. You must communicate boldly and clearly in order to engage your employees:
- Let each unit define specific strategic initiatives attached to the strategic framework
- Create team spirit by holding everyone accountable for their strategic initiatives
- Make a two-way communication plan to ensure engagement and alignment
Objective of the Alignment and Engagement Cornerstone: Create a clear line of sight by getting all organizational units aligned toward common goals. In this way, you will incorporate effective Strategy execution Management into the cultural DNA.