Sherpa Alliance

Month Four of our Fiscal Year (April for many of us) is a time to practice the 3Rs of Re-aligning, Re-enrolling & Re-engaging our team, broadly and deeply across our organization.

i)  Re-aligning the team with any steering-shifts coming out of last month’s Semi-Annual Strategic Review (Month Three Process-Step:  Semi Annual Strategic Review).

ii)  Re-enrolling the team in the journey, from where we are, to where we want to be and why - why it’s worth it for the business, for the team and for them individually.

iii) Re-engaging the team in the how (how we will get there,  via what kind of path and via everyone doing their fair share of heavy-lifting) and the who (who needs to do what and when)   

Here are some things-to-think-about, questions-to-ponder, decisions-to-make and actions-to-take.

Things-to-Think-About

• Think about the "who", "what", "how", "where", "when" and "why", to get really clear about your approach to communicate these to the team.
• Think about any elements of inertia, resistance or other obstacles you may encounter and will need to overcome through good change management and leadership, to make sure you are ready to tackle these (Are You Tickling or Tackling Issues?) 
• Think about where you have been experiencing more wheelspin, less traction and less agility than you are comfortable with and how you will communicate these opportunities for improvement

Questions-to-Ponder

• Which parts of the organization do you need the most re-alignment, re-enrollment and re-engagement from and how will you communicate to inspire those changes?
• What mix of communication channels, sessions and audiences can you best use to achieve the overall re-alignment, re-enrollment and re-engagement you are looking for?
• Who do you need to be an integral part of the communication process (the associated VPs, Directors, Managers, other key players and/or influencers, as appropriate), reinforcing the message, and what pre-alignment, pre-enrollment and pre-engagement do you need to achieve first?
• Who or what are blockages to the re-alignment, re-enrollment and re-engagement you are looking for and how will you navigate that topography?

Decisions-to-Make

• Decide how you will deal with any identified blockages and how you will achieve any pre-alignment, pre-enrollment and pre-engagement - don’t take any prisoners.
• Decide on the mix and sequence of communication channels, sessions and audiences, keeping in mind that just when you think you have communicated enough, you need to communicate some more!
• Decide on the language, vocabulary and themes you will architect your message around for the impact you need to have, keeping in mind that questions, stories, pictures and metaphors are some of the best ways to make an impactful connection.

Actions-to-Take

• Layout a schedule for the month, of sequential and parallel activities, to achieve the overall re-re-alignment, re-enrolment and re-engagement you are looking for
• Tackle the blockages, and pre-pre-alignment, pre-enrollment and pre-engagement, confidently and courageously - don’t be held hostage by any FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) about how it might turn out - remember the wheel$pin price you are paying by not tackling these issues.
• Hold the communication sessions you have planned and revisit your process/cycle/discipline of communication reinforce your message on an ongoing basis.

When you are working on your organizational agility, progressively there isn’t a fight you can’t win.