Clarifying strategic direction: Another use for climate

“What’ s the best climate profile for us?”  Someone is going to ask the question.  Maybe she thinks that the operation isn’t unique and can learn from similar businesses.  True.  Then again, the question puts responsibility for the answer somewhere out there, rather than right here, hanging heavy on her hands.  Climate is still just a reflection of what it’s like to work here, which is what managers are responsible for.  Climate is the managers’ agenda.

Best climate profile?  You tell me

Until the discussion shifts to “us” and “the profile we want,” managers are distancing themselves from using climate as a measure of performance and change.   The best climate profile is the one that makes it possible to achieve strategic objectives. I know, too conceptual, so try this:  We need to make working here serve our market strategy.  Managers who don’t buy the current strategy will balk and blame.  They’re probably right to do so.

Climate opens a discussion about why some people don’t have a good experience working here.  This is the thread that leads back to all your strategic decisions:  Did we recruit the right people, are they trained and skilled in the right way, do we have systems that support the strategy?  Do we have a strategy?  Is it clear?

The day to day agenda of how for improving climate dimensions is focused on changing how people work toward a goal.  The leaders among managers will ask, “Are we sure we know where we are going?”  Be sure you tell them if you know.  And it you don’t know, decide.

Conclusions

• Trying to influence climate raises questions of strategic direction and leadership
• To begin to influence climate dimensions, determine the primary objective the organization will serve right now. Don’t get bogged down in a big, hairy analysis project and PowerPoint-writing charrette.  Sit in a room and pick an objective to focus on.  You can’t do everything and you know it.
• Pick two climate dimensions you want to influence.  For example, “We’ll work to raise the bar on pressure to achieve higher standards and sense of responsibility in the work by X (amount) by (a date).”  Treat it as a hypothesis you’re testing (see “Best climate?” above, right?).