In addition to RES Company updates, our leadership team will be sharing lessons learned and tips from experiences in our field of work over the coming months. We hope you enjoy reading them.
Getting Big Things Done in Political Organizations
by: Charles Black, CEO of Real Estate Strategies, Inc.
Over the years, our leadership team has had both the pleasure and pain of watching our clients attempt to turn big ideas into action, quickly. In fact, much of our core business has been developed in direct response to this critical condition. At RES, we’ve formed our own opinions on how to get big things done in political organizations both large and small.
Let’s face it, people, and by default, organizations are tricky. Its human nature. The bigger the organizations are, the more compounded this becomes. But based on our observations, significant progress can still be achieved in the presence of three key drivers:
1. Seasons of Change: It’s a fact – it’s hard to recognize the need for change when the ship is sailing smoothly. But in turbulence – caused by transformation or industry disruption, impatient board or steering committee, leadership turnover, M&A, or other causes – opportunities to get big things done are plentiful. Pay attention to which way the wind is blowing and make sure your timing is right, but don’t wait until the last minute – by then, it’s usually too late to turn the ship.
2. Introduction of Logic: The introduction of data & fact through analysis is another powerful tool. Regardless of whether logic ultimately prevails, it allows you to uncover true incentives and motives of key stakeholders that can either stall a plan or pass it through. An often-underutilized use of logic is to reveal whether a stop or go force is logic or emotion based. If sound facts meet resistance, chances are emotion is at play. However, the open and persistent presentation of facts can go a long way in exposing, and eventually bypassing emotion based resistance.
3. Leveraging a New Voice: In any organization, politics and the desire for job preservation abound. Thus, it wrongly seems safer to simply maintain status quo. In cases like this, an objective neutral voice can sometimes break the stall. A trusted external party can be forthright and communicate without fear of internal reprisal – simply put, they can say what you cannot. Leveraging an objective, external partner that is not only skilled in presenting an idea but also willing to stand up and go against the status quo if the situation calls for it can be a very powerful tactic.
If one or more of the above drivers are missing, you’re in for a tough battle in implementing big change.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP!
At RES, we’ve been through the task and understand that there are ways to proactively leverage these key drivers. So, if you recognize the need to make a difference in your organization, start with change, logic, and an objective voice to help get big things done!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charles has a passion for helping clients become more strategic. With vast expertise in the Healthcare, Financial Services, Retail, Oil & Gas, and Wholesale industries, Charles has partnered with hundreds of organizations to leverage the power of data and analytics to create innovative business and real estate strategies that transform portfolios and enable core business success.
For more information, please contact: Charles.Black@REStrategies.com