#TheStrategicProcess #Communication

Communication is one of the key success factors during

#TheStrategicProcess!

One of the first important things that should take care of the Strategic Working Group (SWG) should be the communication between senior top management, themselves and the rest of the employees of the company. Indeed, there is nothing more important in #TheStrategicProcess development (SPd). Top management must be perfectly aligned with the Strategic Working Group (SWG) to define a system how to communicate the information generated in the process in a truthful manner following the progress of #TheStrategicProcess. 

The information can be transmitted and communicated in many ways, such as through internal newsletters, brochures, official company announcements, intranet, etc. The important thing is that no one member of the company feels neglected without to receive proper information about what is really changing in the company. 

Experience shows that lack of information is one of the main causes of failure in the SPd. Therefore, top management should give clear instructions to the SWG for this very important aspect, to develop a clear and effective communication process in order to communicate the most relevant topics of #TheStrategicProcess for the good governance of the process. I repeat, nothing is so important as the right communication to integrate the people into #TheStrategicProcess.

#TheStrategicProcess suposes an important change in the company and in many cases the change affects people because the new strategy requires new processes and sometimes new structures. Of course, #TheStrategicProcess is a very sensitive process and for that reason it is important to communicate the right topics and on time avoiding bad interpretations and rumours. 

The topics to be communicated are very important but also the manner, means how and when is necessary to communicate. I strongly recommend to nominate an official speaker selected in between the members of the Strategic Working Group, normally the member with better communication skills. 

We recommend a fortnightly information on small and medium companies and monthly information in larger enterprises. What is important is to inform with regularity but we will maintain also certain flexibility and so, we will reserve the right to announce any major changes without waiting for the rumours appears or do its presence in the company. 

Efectively, nothing is more harmful in a process of this type. If the statement is important and affects for example the structure and the organization of the company, top management shouldn't hesitate to report in person at a meeting or assembly on the most important issues discussed and conclusions that have been reached. Anything we can do to integrate the people of the company in the process with a clear and positive communication system, will be very positive as we move into #TheStrategicProcess development.

#TheStrategicProcess #StrategicTeam

So far until here the senior management has been involved in #TheStrategicProcess development (SPd) defining the Vision and Mission of the company, having also a clear statement about the Shared Values of the organization. From this point, top management should define the Strategic Team that will work to carry forward #TheStrategicProcess. 

The selected team should be made up of highly qualified people from different departments, areas or sections that form the structure of the company regardless of the level they occupy in the hierarchy. If we want to have a good Strategy we need to have the best Strategic Team to define and after to implement it. It is highly recomendable that all the Team or a big part of the people involved in the definition would be later involved in the implementation of #TheStrategicProcess. While doing in  this manner we have the compromise of the people from the beginning to the end of the process.

Experience tells us that these people will be working almost full time in a period of time ranging from three to six months for small to medium enterprises and between six and twelve months for medium to large companies only for the period of definition. Therefore the team should not be excessive because the company must continue to run in their day to day business. 

We recommend Strategic Teams of three to five people for small or medium businesses and five to ten people for medium and large companies. Onset #TheStrategicProcess development is a good time to delegate responsibilities and tasks within the company. 

As we begin to see #TheStrategicProcess development involves more than the willingness to change things because we will really change things. The structure of a company and all employees must consciously be prepared for this kind of process if we want to carried it successfully to the end. Remember that nine of ten companies fails in the implementation of #TheStrategicProcess and this is not acceptable from our point of view. 

The Strategic Team will be selected with extreme care and they must meet many skills that we will attend later, but it will be very important that the people involved in the team have the absolute confidence of senior management. Because very offen during #TheStrategicProcess many sensitive issues about the past, present and future of the company will be discussed.