As a CEO or C-suite executive, you are experiencing changes across your business like no generation of business leaders before. And this rapid pace of change is redefining the role of a CEO. Specifically, in the area of strategic communications.
In the past, communication was important, but maybe not at the top of every CEO’s priority list. Today, leading executives understand the correlation between the desired outcome of change and the clarity of strategic communication in support of that change.
That’s why more and more CEOs are taking ownership in formulating and managing the story around strategic changes they are implementing in their business.
They are making this a high priority because they know what happens when they don’t. Priorities get mixed up. Leadership decisions are not aligned. Employees get confused. Productivity drops off. And ultimately, customers get frustrated and leave.
According to Knoll Workplace Research, substantial organizational change occurs every three years.
How much has your business changed the last three months, let alone the last three years …
- Changes in buyer behavior
- Changes in your product or service offerings
- Changes in your selling organization
- Changes in your culture
- Changes in your customer experience
- Changes in your vision and mission
- Changes in your go-to-market strategy
The questions you must ask yourself today are:
- What are you doing to formulate a clear, compelling and consistent message around changes in your business and how those changes will impact leaders, frontline employees and customers?
- What story and intentional communication strategy will ensure change and innovation works for the business — not against it?
- Where does strategic and intentional communication land on your priority list?
As the CEO, if you are not thinking about and leading the conversation in these areas — you should be.
Why? Because you ultimately own the impact these changes have on your business and you will not achieve desired results without an intentional, CEO-driven communication strategy that is activated up and down your organization.
