Today’s dynamic healthcare landscape proves that change is not just inevitable, but a crucial part of most organizations’ growth. Whether you are contemplating a new technology, restructuring the organization, or shifting strategic direction, identifying Executive Sponsors to champion the cause and guide the organization through the transition is a major predictor of success.
When a C-Level leader serves as the Executive Sponsor to a major transformation effort, it is obvious to the rest of the organization “where the buck stops”. This top-level accountability cascades throughout the organization with the executive sponsor serving as the public face of the effort and modeling the desired skills and attributes the change effort is driving towards.
We’ve seen many examples of complex projects relying too much on the “science” of the tools and techniques of project management while failing to recognize the attention needed to address the “art” of people-related aspects or organizational change. In our experience, the most successful transformation efforts are led by Executive Sponsors who understand the “balance” of this art and science approach and demonstrate the following:
Executive Sponsor as an “Artist”
- Understand organizational “politics” and how these take on an out-sized role in major change efforts
- Negotiate conflicting interests while addressing the overall needs of the organization
- Represent the initiative internally and externally across multiple levels of the organization, from the C-Suite to front-line staff
- Identify and understand the full range of opportunities and risks to the organization’s culture and participating staff
- Easily form and nurture trust-based relationships
Executive Sponsor as a “Scientist”
- Understand and support needed project management methods and techniques
- Familiar with interpreting and communicating project plans and reports
- Utilize and assess performance indicators
- Implement a comprehensive governance model
If you are developing the governance structure for a complex transformation effort, you may want to consider the following in selecting the Executive Sponsor:
Vision – can they articulate and model the future vision to ensure it is a major driver of daily work
Experience – reflecting on prior enterprise-wide efforts, have they successfully sponsored or championed previous projects and what attributes contributed to their success? Are they positioned to share their insights and experience for this new initiative?
Authority – do they have recognized and respected authority across the areas where the initiative will have the most significant impact? Can they provide their insights, experience and expertise to key stakeholders?
Interest – are they genuinely interested in the change effort and its objectives. Can their passion and commitment motivate and inspire others? Are they willing and available to be involved?
Leverage – will they be comfortable addressing risk-averse and change-averse stakeholders and participants that may impede progress?
Urgency – do they appreciate the complexity and dependencies that will be inherent to the project?
Confronting Obstacles – are they adept at calling out behaviors and communicating expectations? Can they empower other change-agents and will they stand behind them when situations require timely and objective decisions?
Resource Engagement – will they effectively facilitate and lead efforts spanning both internal staff and other external parties (e.g. consultants, vendors, service providers, etc.)
Publicly Model Desired Attributes – are they comfortable in performing newly expected organizational behaviors and interactions for, and with, their executive colleagues?
Endurance – are they prepared to commit for an extended period to provide the required “NorthStar” in navigating significant organizational and cultural changes?
Identifying and supporting the Executive Sponsor for a complex and strategic change initiative is a major determinant of future success. Utilizing a structured approach that includes considerations similar to those above will enable the overall project governance model and position your project team to achieve objectives, timelines, and outcomes.
To learn more about our work helping healthcare companies identify and support Executive Sponsors for major transformation and change management initiatives, visit our website at www.sunstonemanagementadvisors.com or send us an inquiry at info@sunstonemanagementadvisors.com
