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Get a Seat at the Strategy Table - WebVisions 2011
To get a seat at the strategy table, one must understand the organization's strategic goals and objectives, know how decisions are made, and think about long term changes. It is important to build relationships with allies, know potential opponents, and have important conversations before proposing new ideas. One should pick their battles wisely, help others' goals, and offer solutions, preferably with proposed solutions or already implemented solutions. It is also important to learn how executives communicate, listen more than speaking, and become comfortable discussing strategy with executives.
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Get a Seat at the Strategy Table - WebVisions 2011
- 1. Get a Seatat the Strategy Table Samantha Starmersstarme@rei.com @samanthastarmer http://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/2475433404/
- 2. meweb and experiencestuff: Amazon, MicrosoftREI – Recreational Equipment, Inc. lead IA, UX, IxD & analytics teamsteach at University of Washington
- 3. do you wantyour ideas to be heard?
- 4. do you wantto be a trusted advisor?
- 5. do you wantto be part of the decision process?
- 6. knowthe big picturehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/aatemu/4784742636/
- 7. know the bigpictureknow your organizations’ strategic goals and objectivesunderstand where can your work directly benefit those goals learn when and how decisions get madethink about 5 years out and three levels up – what changes?take an executive to coffee
- 8. laypipe: the art of the pre-sell
- 9. pre-sellalways be buildinga conduit for your goalslook for allies up, down and sidewaysknow who will oppose you, and why all the important conversations should happen before you propose a new idea
- 10. pickyour battles
- 11. pick your battlesfocuson what is most importantpay attention to timing – may be better to lose this battlebe patient be a team player - help advance others’ goals, not just your own
- 12.
- 13. offer solutionsgood: problemsare framed as opportunitiesbetter: you bring proposed solutions whenever you identify a challengebest: you come to the table with the solution already implemented or underway
- 14. talkthe talk
- 15. talk the talklistenmore than you speakwatch more than you presentlearn how your executives talkwhat is important to them?how are they rewarded and compensated?what words do they use?adapt to their language, don’t force them to adapt to yours
- 16.
- 17. walk the walkgetcomfortable talking to executivesget comfortable with strategy keep your perspective on the big pictureit should feel natural for people to come to you with strategic questionsJust do it. Just be it
- 18. thank you!!Samantha Starmer sstarme@rei.com @samanthastarmerhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/baking_in_pearls/3960662314
Editor's Notes
- #9 I didn’t realize until this morning that the term ‘laying pipe’ has some less than business appropriate meanings. But it’s a term my VP regularly uses to mean doing the ‘pre-sell’. And I had already finished my slides, so I kept it in You want to always be building a conduit for what you think should happen. Begin setting the stage for what you want to happen months or even years in advance. Pre-sell your ideas as much as you can up, down and sideways. All the important conversations should happen before you propose a new idea. You don’t ever want to be surprised by what people are going to say or how they will respond.Last year I was working hard to evangelize a significant effort towards improving our customer experience. I