Articles and Newsletters

After the “Re-Org”: 5 Steps for Maintaining Performance, Even When Everything’s Changed
By Sarah Woods

Suddenly, everything is different at your company. Bill in marketing is gone, and you’re not sure who’s going to help your staff put the data together for the meeting next week. When you email Corporate Compliance for approval on your team’s proposal, you get a call from a new contact who tells you they’re re-evaluating the approval process because of new leadership, and they’ll have to get back to you. Your boss isn’t much help – they’re under pressure to manage an additional two business areas and integrate the team. And yet, the clock isn’t stopping…you still need to deliver.

Whether your company is downsizing due to a drop in revenues, or using the recession as an opportunity to reorganize to come back strong when economy bounces back, we all know that change will be a constant for the foreseeable future.

If you’ve survived the “re-org”, you’re likely to have more on your plate than you did before; inheriting new responsibilities while managing staff that look more like the walking wounded than the strong team you need. You may find you have no time to catch your breath and think strategically about how to integrate and incorporate. At the same time, you can bet you’ll be judged by how well you pick up the slack, move quickly toward productivity, and retain your talent.

It’s a lot to ask…and yet, THIS is the new normal. To demonstrate leadership and deliver strong performance, you’ll need to forge new relationships, build a cohesive team, influence across the organization and manage conflict as roles and responsibilities continue to get sorted out.

Communication is the biggest challenge you’ll face. As leaders scramble to assimilate departments, reduce redundancies, reduce costs and drive new initiatives, the casualty of the results-driven organization is communication. Here are the 5 key steps you can take to ensure you maintain performance after the re-org:

  1. Don’t go it alone – Tap into the collective wisdom of those who have been in your role before you. If you have access to previous management, call them and talk about what succeeded, and what failed. If you don’t have a line to predecessors, find a mentor who will give you background and prevent you from reinventing the wheel.
  2. Put on your sales hat – Make it your business to develop a strong pitch about your department and the value they bring to the organization. Make sure you align that value to the overall strategy of the company.
  3. Be visible – Set up calls or meetings with key colleagues who will help you get your job done, and build a collaborative relationship. Approach these conversations with “here’s how we can help you.”
  4. Get outside support – Communicating successfully to your demoralized team, key influencers in your company, senior leadership and even clients is paramount to your success. Don’t wing it, and don’t marginalize it. Bring in an executive coach who can help you develop the skills you need to succeed.
  5. Talk to your team – Be honest, be direct, be accessible, and be visionary. They are counting on you to give them clear direction, the resources they need to succeed, and to inspire them to embrace the future and win. You won’t do that by appearing overwhelmed and frustrated.

Sarah Woods can be contacted at swoods@bates-communications.com. Check out Sarah’s workbook and CD on how to “Jumpstart Sales Through Powerful Presentations” here: http://www.bates-communications.com/online-store/books-and-products.php#jumpstart

Other articles for this month include

Media Exposure for Economic Recovery: Steps for Getting Good Press in Trying Times

After the “Re-Org”: 5 Steps for Maintaining Performance, Even When Everything’s Changed

How to “Unearth” Ideas, Issues, and Solutions: Become an “Exploratory Listener”

The #1 Issue for Companies Emerging from the Recession: Rebuilding Trust



Read and subscribe to Suzanne Bates’ blog, for her latest tips on how to become a powerful speaker and communicator!

Testimonials

"As a result of Bates' training…our executives are far better communicators than ever before, and the results show in our increasingly positive press and ability to move these audiences to action."

Matt Davis,
Corp. Director of Executive Communications,
Dow Chemical Co.


View More Testimonials