Skip to main content

Work Advice - Asked and Answered

Looking for advice on how to champion an innovative idea such as a fully integrated Multi Channel Suite, in a culture that tends to work in silos & doesn't easily embrace such innovation?
I am looking for advice from anyone who has tried to (successfully) incorporate innovative change, in a culture that doesn't usually react or adopt such change? Specifically, if the culture has been for each department to work in their own silo or a culture that is not tech savvy and resists embracing technology, especially if they feel it puts "all the eggs in one basket?"

Your advice or shared experiences are most welcome & much appreciated!

Thank you!

Jim Derochea



Jim Derochea
Multi Channel Publishing Manager



RESPONSE FROM:
ADRIENNE WALLACE HAYWARD
Marketing & Brand Development Leader
Jim,

I have done this successfully a few times in my career.
Doing this requires strategy that calls up psychology, meeting and relationship tactics. It also requires communicating with folks at all levels in the different departments; so executive decision makers as well as operations folks that coordinate and execute within each department are the people that you must engage.

First ...mentally position yourself as the "Change Agent" and subscribe to the notion that change is good. Make sure that as that agent of change you are never projecting resistance to change or integration of "suites". Yes, suites...stop using that word " silos" because it is mentally depreciating, speaks to separation and the term "suites" allows you to approach with the perception of high value existing in each department as a part of a greater and top-notch rated entity versus privatized departments. Suites are who you should engage and your responsibility is to let them know you perceive them as such. Understand their measure of success and be certain to validate how your new introduction facilitates them achieving those goals.

Example - Joe, I really would like to sit with you and understand what happens in the Finance department. I think the new multichannel suite would be of great benefit and I want to know what you think and to evaluate how it could serve your team.

Include the managers and decision makers of cross functional departments in your planning meetings wherever possible. If they feel part of building it ..it is easier for them to genuinely work with you and feel obligated to champion the changes that are needed. Ask for their opinions. When presenting to those that will execute in the pre and post adoption series, have them in the same room together and present a process map that shows how they are interdependent, what inefficiencies exist now ( per team feedback) and then show how the adoption of the multi-channel suite will spearhead efficiencies and savings.

Net - net, we have to always acknowledge the legacy, appeal to the egos and show that we understand what is being done now if we want folks to willing make changes across their " suites" . The other thing, relationships and grace...never forget " please" and "thank you."

Best of luck !

Kind Regards,
Adrienne Wallace Hayward

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

LETTING GO....

  L-E-T-T-I-N-G    G-O You have seen these words before..yes? Very simply written in nine letters. “L e tting  go .” Why does it make you uncomfortable?  It is simply an action that you as a human being experience every single day, just by physically and chemically existing.  It is an action that occurs when you have complete trust in your intuition ; that heaven sent voice inside of you. You know the one you may not always agree with, but the angels are so fond of you ..they send it into your ears, head, heart , and sometimes your eyes? If you are reading this your eyes open and they shut very quickly ..it is called "blinking" but in fact it is letting go and it happens very quickly. As we blink old light goes away and we allow new light to come in …seeing the next moment. As you turned on your computer or device you may have pressed a button, touched the screen, flipped a switch. As you clicked on your mouse, stroked and released keys on the k...

Show some respect. He is not your companion. He is your Commander -In - Chief.

The blatant and horrid disrespect of our Nation's President started long before the State of the Union address where he was called a " liar"  and continues with  even worse name calling and racial attacks. Our President may be referred to as the following:  " Mr. President", "The Honorable Barack Obama", "His Excellency,  Barack Obama", and of course President Obama.  Nothing less is acceptable. Even referencing him by first name alone (as many people do) is out of line unless you are First Lady Michelle Obama. While I think we are a global family, I also think these ongoing episodes do much to  further segregate America and give it the image of our country as a place of disgrace, disuntity, and hate. Imagine trying to explain it to a 5 year old who followed the campaign and elections with her family and proudly declared that " Our President is Barack Obama and Ms. Michelle looks like my Nana." (*my heart breaks for ...

Ask and it is answered: Companies and Social Networks - April 2009

Should a company build it's own social network or should it just join the ones out there that already exist? I think many companies will want to build their own social networks in order to moderate, control, dictate , and ultimately impact the branding message in favor of the organization. When you decide to host a dinner party, your guests are typically going to eat some of what you have decided to serve. It's like that when a company builds their own social network. PR and Marketing end up being in full play. Should they doe this? Absolutely. NING, Linkedin, and even A SMALL WORLD allow for this type of action. However, as much as a company may try ..it is truly difficult to exist in a bubble and the newer platforms ,i.e. Twitter seem to make it less likely as people choose to lend their ears or not. Who doesn't want the data and qualitative feedback of the consumers that manifest the cult at their disposal?. Companies dependent on wide scale and diverse consumer demog...