Driving impact to create more just and equitable organizations is a top strategic priority for global organizations. Delivering on this promise to internal and external stakeholders requires leadership to create agile, resilient and values aligned organizations. To ensure internal and external equity, it is imperative to ensure that your people strategy aligns with organizational strategy.
Driving impact to create more just and equitable organizations is a top strategic priority for global organization
We are constantly reminded of the implications of misalignment. These include dissatisfied clients, disengaged employees, lost opportunity, increased risks, and even penalties and fines. The importance of strategic alignment of people policies crosses all types of organizations. Walking the walk is crucial for successful alignment of people and organizational strategy.
Walking the walk is crucial for successful alignment of people and organizational strategy.
People strategy includes:
- Talent Attraction and Onboarding
- Organizational Culture and Structure
- Talent Development and Career Development
- Leadership Development
- Feedback and Coaching
- Performance Management, KPIs and Metrics
- Team Dynamics
- Management Development
- People Systems and Technology
- Board Education and Alignment
People strategy supports strategic alignment by ensuring that your people process, policies, and systems reinforce organizational culture and vision. To create a just and equitable organization, employees need psychological safety for belonging. They want to bring their authentic selves to work to contribute to the organizational vision and mission. Creating an organization that promotes a variety of experiences, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives promotes organizational agility and resilience to better implement strategic vision. Building a culture of belonging requires that People Strategy supports alignment with programs, systems, and policies.
People strategy supports strategic alignment by ensuring that your people process, policies, and systems reinforce organizational culture and vision.
A recent article in the WSJ, Behind Davos, Claims of a Toxic Workplace, highlights the problems from misalignment between the World Economic Forum (WEF) stated mission and its people strategy. The WEF is the organization that hosts the annual meeting of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland, and its operating mission is to bring government, businesses, and civil society together to improve the state of the world often focusing on issues related to environmental, social, and economic justice. The article highlights the impact of the misalignment between the people strategy and organizational mission resulting in allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, gender inequity, and in general a toxic work culture for many employees.
The article highlights the impact of the misalignment between people strategy and organizational mission.
Ensuring organizational strategic alignment requires a people strategy supporting both the organizational requirements and the individual’s needs. The human capital management function isn’t just about compliance, it plays an important role in authentically delivering organizational mission and vision. Building a first-class organization, requires prioritization of people strategy.
Building a first-class organization requires prioritization of people strategy.
If you wish to discuss this topic in more detail, please reach out to our Managing Partner, Kristina Kohl.