As noted in the prior blog, it will take a lot of planning to execute a cost-effective, strategically focused recovery plan. The effort starts at the top, with smart leadership. Paul Laudicina identified 10 key activities in which leaders must engage in order to succeed. They are:
- Assess. A fact-based, multi-variable, multi-stakeholder assessment of the situation is needed, regardless of what sacred cows are vulnerable. Make sure to get your team’s buy-in.
- Imagine. Use scenario planning tools to assess what’s likely and what wild-cards might bring with them.
- Prepare. What has to be done to move away from what you did and what needs to be done to get you to the next normal?
- Assign. Delegate responsibilities to team members for greater bandwidth, diversity of thought and fresh perspectives.
- Communicate. Regularly, you need to engage all stakeholders – employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers, community leaders, etc. Change is hard, and each communication helps reinforce the messages true intent and direction.
- Act. Take responsibility for execution and engage everyone to create ownership by the team.
- Measure. We get what we measure. So choose the right decision criteria to measure process and outcomes. Do so frequently.
- Adjust When necessary do so, explain why and monitor it’s success closely.
- Empathize. Remember, serving your people overrides the rigidity of a strategy. Understand and address people’s pain in this situation and be sensitive to their needs.
- Engage. Stay visible to all stakeholders. You are the role model: you symbolize the change that you’re implementing.
Share your leadership challenges as you execute. And ask our community for help!