The Challenge: The CEO of a medium-sized business was struggling to focus on strategy and client networking because he was constantly pulled into day-to-day operations. Senior and mid-level staff were unclear on their roles and accountability, leading to inefficiencies and slowing progress toward the company’s growth objectives.
The Goal: To improve accountability across the organization, empowering the team to take ownership of their roles and drive business results while freeing up the CEO to focus on strategic priorities.
The Solution: Implementing The Navigator Framework
Week 1: Setting the Stage: The process began with a deep dive into the company’s strategy, operations, and key deliverables. Understanding these elements was essential to align the team’s efforts with the business growth goals.
Week 2: Defining Desired Results: Time was spent listing the results needed to achieve growth, cost, and profit targets. These results were directly tied to the company’s strategic objectives, ensuring every team member understood their role in driving business success.
Weeks 3–5: Collaborative Workshops: Over the next three weeks, a series of 2-hour workshops with the full team of 30 employees were conducted. Together, they defined 126 specific results that 8 business units need to contribute to. These workshops fostered collaboration, clarity, and commitment, setting the foundation for improved accountability.
Week 6: Experimenting with Measurement: The final workshop focused on experimenting with measuring the identified results. Teams practised tracking progress and learned how to report on their contributions effectively.
The Impact: Measurable Progress and Accountability
Month 2: Establishing a Rhythm During the second month, weekly measurement meetings were held for 1.5 hours. These sessions reviewed progress, addressed challenges, and refined processes. By the end of the month, meetings were streamlined to 1 hour as team members became more confident in tracking and reporting results. The business began to show improvements in key metrics as roles and responsibilities became actionable and measurable.
Month 3: Embedding Accountability In the third month, weekly meetings continued at 1 hour. By the end of Q1, the company was already seeing significant improvements in financial performance, operational efficiency, and employee engagement. The clearer structure and focus on results were paying off.
Quarter 2: Ownership and Independence During the second quarter, weekly meetings were reduced to 30 minutes as staff took full charge of their responsibilities. The team operated with increased confidence and autonomy, requiring less oversight.
The Litmus Test: CEO Goes on Leave At the six-month mark, the CEO took a two-week vacation. The true test of accountability came when the business ran seamlessly in his absence. This milestone proved that the initial problem had been effectively addressed, with the team fully owning their roles and delivering results independently.
Key Outcomes
Clarity in Accountability: Defined 126 measurable results tied to strategic goals, providing clear direction for all staff.
Improved Performance: Achieved noticeable business improvements by the end of Q1, including better financial metrics and operational efficiency.
Empowered Teams: Staff confidently took ownership of their responsibilities, reducing the need for CEO involvement in daily operations.
Sustainable Progress: By Q2, accountability was fully embedded, and meetings required minimal time while maintaining focus and progress.
Conclusion: A New Era of Growth
Through The Navigator, the business transformed its approach to accountability. The CEO reclaimed valuable time for strategic initiatives, and the team delivered results with confidence and independence. By the end of six months, the company was on track to achieve its objectives, with an improved culture of accountability driving sustained success.
The Navigator proved to be the catalyst for unlocking the organization’s potential, demonstrating how a clear framework can empower teams, streamline operations, and enable leaders to focus on growth.
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