CEO Success: Unlocking Your Team's Potential for Strategic Excellence

People are more than resumes on paper. They are complex, unique entities who show up, engage, and execute differently depending on the core function of the group they are in as well as their relationship with the other individuals in the group. When any member of a group enters or leaves, the dynamics of that group changes. Experienced CEOs face this dynamic when stepping into a new company, and for new CEOs who are navigating at the top level for the first time, this can be even more daunting without the right tools.

Understanding Your Team

Recognize that teams change and evolve as the individuals in the team change and evolve. This means that doing the work to create trusting and effective teams never stops. If you are just getting started with a new team, consider incorporating a fun and enlightening assessment like @principles to break the ice. Principles uses cutting-edge science to reveal cognitive, engagement, and motivational drivers in a way that builds more effective communication and relationships. My clients have found it so powerful that I incorporate it into every coaching engagement and every strategic planning project I run.

Aligning Your Team

Alignment happens when everyone understands and can see their part in the vision, and where their own objectives are being met along with the overarching organizational goals. We know that shared values and efforts that support the common good are what make an organization strong – for CEOs, this means that those elements must be considered, captured, and clear in the strategy you design. This is why using an approach grounded in Purpose, Growth, and Evolution is crucial for ensuring that strategy not only defines outcomes, but also the shared values and common good elements necessary for true alignment.

What To Do Next?

Go deep and do it early.

1. Pull your team into a retreat and really get to know who they are as individuals and how they operate as a team. Use good tools like Principles and spend the time to really let your team learn about themselves, each other, and you!
   

2. Take a hard look at your existing strategy. Is the vision clear and believable? Is there an executable plan that fosters further development of internal capabilities to support key growth initiatives? Does your plan anticipate where you need to be for all stakeholders involved in the next 1, 5, and 10 years, and are there strategic priorities to edge you along that path? If the answer is no to any of these questions, it’s time to revamp your strategy.

3. Take a quick pulse of your organization. A 3-5 question survey can tell you a lot about what your people know of the vision, how they feel they fit in, and if they have the support and freedom to organically connect across divisions to solve problems that impact systems both small and large. Culture is more than just a feel good concept – it reflects the health, stability, and adaptability of your organization.

Are you ready to up your strategy game? 

Schedule a discovery call today to learn more about my Quantum-Intelligent approach to strategy and leadership!