The business world we operate in today is driven by instantaneous communication. Employees, partners and customers now have immediate access to the messages being delivered by your organization — internally and externally. And the message you need them to hear starts at the top.

So, the question is: What’s the story coming from your C-suite?

As a C-suite executive, it’s time to acknowledge the new currency in the digital age of business is communication. The ability to develop, deliver and activate a crystal-clear message will separate market leaders from laggards in the future.

C-suite executives must embrace this fact. They can no longer ignore the impact strategic messages have on business performance, nor the technologies that change how those messages are delivered. Any inconsistency or crack in the armor can negatively impact employee engagement, brand reputation, customer retention and, ultimately, the financial performance of the business. That’s why the voice of the C-suite is more critical than ever before.

Modern executive teams get this. They are investing the time and resources required to formulate strategic C-suite messages that matter and leveraging innovative technologies to deliver that story across their organization and into the marketplace. These executives understand that before they can leverage technology in a positive and meaningful way, they first must define the stories and messages that must get through to employees, partners and customers.

As a C-suite executive, ask yourself … what are the stories we have to share consistently internally and externally?

  • What’s the story behind our brand and purpose?
  • What’s the story behind our go-to-market strategy?
  • What’s the story we want employees to share throughout the customer experience?
  • What’s our story to current and prospective investors?

Now ask yourself are we, as a C-suite, on message? Are these stories clear, compelling and consistent?

The days of delegating strategic, organizational communication to others are over. C-suite executives must take the reins — like they did years ago. Why? Because only those executive teams that make strategic messaging development a priority, define sustained pull-through strategies and leverage innovative communication technologies will succeed at engaging employees, partners and customers in meaningful ways — ways that ultimately drive business and financial performance.

That’s Your OnMessage Minute.