The Basics of Aligning People to Business Strategy

It's crucial to make sure your team's daily tasks align with the company's strategic goals. When there's a gap between what your employees do every day and the broader objectives of the company, it can lead to a drop in motivation, lower productivity, and a blurry sense of direction. People who understand the 'why' behind their work tend to be more engaged, more productive, and better aligned with the company's mission.

The Importance of Clarity in Roles and Objectives

Having a clear sense of role and direction is important for making any strategy work. When employees understand exactly how their daily tasks help achieve the company's goals, they feel more connected to the results of their work. This connection is especially important in dynamic business environments where job roles are constantly evolving.

Bridging the Gap Through Proper Communication

Communication is key to connecting people with the broader strategy of the organisation. It's important to clearly define strategic goals, outline plans to achieve them, and keep everyone updated on progress. Just as important is being open about any challenges along the way. This kind of transparent communication makes sure everyone understands their role in achieving organisational goals and feels part of the team’s journey.

I had the privilege of collaborating with a CEO who embraced transparency during a significant strategic shift within the company. He articulated the rationale behind the change well and provided a clear strategic roadmap. Furthermore, he actively engaged with stakeholders regarding organisational structural adjustments, which encompassed alterations in reporting lines, the introduction of new roles, and the dissolution of others. These changes impacted the executive team as well as all supporting departments. The CEO prioritised open communication by hosting meetings where staff could pose questions and never discouraged direct engagement. As a result, he garnered overwhelming support and encouragement from the team, as they comprehended the rationale behind the plan and understood the necessary steps to achieve strategic objectives. Notably, this leader navigated this transformative process during the challenges of a COVID lockdown, with 90% of the proceedings conducted online. In a poignant moment, the CEO expressed his appreciation, remarking, "It's been great working with you Lee. I hope we can meet someday."

Integrating Strategy with People Management

Strategic human resource management is key in aligning employees with a company's vision. This approach makes sure that key HR activities like hiring, training, and performance management are closely connected to the company's main goals. Integrating these strategic goals into everyday processes can let employees get a clear view of how their work impacts the company’s broader objectives.

For example, performance management systems shouldn't just focus on how much employees produce, but also on the results and how their efforts help meet strategic targets. This could involve setting specific individual goals that contribute to larger company aims and recognizing accomplishments that significantly push these objectives forward.

Promoting a Strategic Mindset

Leaders must cultivate a strategic mindset throughout the organisation. Having a strategically focused workforce develops a forward thinking, innovative and unified team that are all striving to achieve common objectives. When it comes to strategic planning, ideas and a fostered sense of ownership will enable staff to adapt to change and continue to move forward with the business. Additionally, decision-making frameworks should be shared with employees to help them understand how their choices impact the company’s strategic outcomes.

Case Study: A Success Story of Strategic Alignment

Consider the case of a tech company that realigned its customer service department to directly support its strategic objective of enhancing customer satisfaction. By training its customer service representatives on new technologies and customer engagement strategies that emphasised problem-solving and relationship-building, the company saw a significant improvement in customer loyalty and revenue growth. Employees in the customer service department understood their direct impact on the strategic goal, which in turn motivated them to perform better.

Conclusion

Let’s make this a key part of our everyday work culture.

Companies that excel in bringing these two elements together build a healthier organisation and a happier workforce. Leaders must ensure that this alignment is maintained not as a one-off initiative but as a continuous process of engagement and communication. Only then can employees consistently understand the 'why' behind their work that leads to a motivated, engaged, and strategically aligned workforce. This strategic integration is not merely a human resource function. It requires the ongoing commitment of all leaders within the organisation. By prioritising people in the context of strategic goals, companies can maximise the full potential of their workforce to drive sustainable growth and excellence.