“Taking the enterprise view” means creating a strong connection between your team’s contributions and the broader goals of the organization. This connection is absolutely critical to employee engagement and job satisfaction. Learn more Bobbie LaPorte’s May 14 “Calling the Game” video:
How Linking Team Efforts to Organizational Goals Can Enhance Engagement and Performance in Challenging Environments
Hi, this is Bobbie LaPorte, back with another week of “Calling the Game,” where I share my own experience and insights while giving you valuable tools you can use to call your own game…and plan the best moves for you and your team.
If you have been following this vlog series for a while, you’ve heard me talk about the importance of leaders “taking the enterprise view.”
What’s my definition of taking the enterprise view?
As a leader in this demanding environment, your success—and your team’s—lies in creating a strong connection between your team’s value contribution and the broader goals of the organization. That is how you increase your team’s impact, which is important at a time when everyone and everything is being scrutinized for value.
You are probably thinking: I am already stretched keeping my team focused on delivering what I need them to do. I don’t have time to worry about how that fits into what the rest of the organization is doing.
I can understand that you may feel that way, but I would suggest that your boss would disagree, and so would I. You are selling your team short and missing the very important connection to the bigger picture, a need that has been established by many studies as the #1 thing that contributes to increased employee engagement.
Why? It’s human nature. We all want to feel that we are part of and contributing to a greater purpose and mission.
So, given everything else you have to deal with, how do you achieve this?
Here are 3 ways you can “take the enterprise view” that will benefit you and your team:
- How do the goals and objectives of your team directly support the organization? Be specific: “When we do ‘x’, it helps the company do ‘y’. For example: “When we make it easier for customers to use our products, we increase the chances that we will not only reduce churn but also increase the likelihood they will buy more from us.”
- Find opportunities to showcase your team’s successes and how they link to the broader company goals.
- Share with your team what’s happening elsewhere in the organization and any information and insight that will give them a deeper connection to the organization beyond your department. Don’t assume your team doesn’t care or they won’t understand.
I’m not suggesting that you need to develop a formal briefing or dig up new information. The information is already there; just be more intentional about sharing it with your team. You might be surprised at the many benefits this can produce for you and for them.
Okay, that’s it for this week’s “Calling the Game.” Hope this helps you gear up for a great week and navigate any curveballs that may come your way!