Communicating effectively through a leadership change
Did you know effective communication is the #1-factor determining success during a #leadership transition?
You heard right.
❌Not competency.
❌Not experience.
✅Communication.
According to a McKinsey study, companies that communicate effectively during a CEO transition are three times more likely to execute their strategic plans successfully.
Another study by Harvard Business Review found that employees are more likely to stay with a company during a CEO transition if they feel informed and included.
Whether you are tasked with creating something new, accelerating an existing plan, turning around an area of the business that is struggling, or building on the work of a respected leader, you will need the support of employees to deliver your #strategy once it is defined.
❇️❇️❇️ This is why integrating a robust internal #communication strategy into your 100-day plan is key to long-term success in your role. ❇️❇️❇️
Here are a few thoughts to get you started:
👉 UNDERSTAND THE SYMBOLISM.
Leadership actions are highly symbolic, especially in the early days. Your actions will be scrutinized more than others, so carefully consider how you spend your time and your first leadership decisions. They will set the tone for your tenure.
👉 DON’T WAIT.
Your strategy will take time to build, but you don’t need to wait to communicate! No one expects you to have all the answers from the start, but they do expect to hear from you.
👉 LISTEN.
Get out there and ask questions. What are employees proud of? Why do they work at the company? What would they fix if they could? Bypass the filters and hear the answers directly from employees, especially those who work with your customers and on your sites. You will gain invaluable insights that will help you shape your future direction.
👉 MAKE IT PERSONAL.
Gone are the days when people rally behind a leader simply because of their role or position. Leaders need to earn that loyalty and trust. Help the teams understand who you are and what matters to you. Combine that with a “playback” of what you are learning from them, and you are well on your way.
👉BE VISIBLE.
While written and video messages are good, they are not enough. Meet employees. Not just the managers. Virtually, face to face, in small groups, one-to-one meetings, town halls... There are many tactics out there.
Spending too much time behind closed doors in the early stages of your tenure can convey the wrong message. Do that, and you risk losing the support you need to drive long-term #success.
👉 SPEAK TO HEARTS AND MINDS.
When you have built your strategy, take the time to build a robust multi-stakeholder communication approach that speaks to hearts and minds. Help employees understand how they will play a part and give them reasons to believe.
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Need some help getting started? Send me a message.
Have more tips? Share them in the comments. ⬇️
Thanks for reading!
