In Part One we examined the first four behaviors from C-suite leaders that deliver results from Integrated Business Planning (IBP). In this blog, we uncover the final behaviors that contribute to the success in leading Integrating Business Planning and the difference it can make in an organization.
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5. Commit to planning
Even the best plans are often not worth the paper they are written on because circumstances change, and plans become obsolete. However, the value of planning lies in establishing it as a discipline that is practiced and updated regularly to reflect changing conditions.
IBP provides a framework for leaders to use to bring organization and a regular cadence to updating and refreshing plans. Leaders must commit to planning as a discipline, providing their teams with the opportunity to learn, practice, and repeat through the monthly IBP reviews. In this way, IBP becomes the way the business is run.
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6. Lead with positivity
Leaders bring a passion for results. This drive also includes quickly identifying any barriers to achieving those results. Passion for achieving results and promptly dealing with problems is a very strong way of leading by example. When senior leaders exhibit these leadership characteristics, there is a trickle-down effect; people tend to emulate the leadership attributes they see practiced, and in particular those they see as attractive and beneficial.
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7. Cultivate culture
Culture shapes and guides the way things get done. With IBP implementations utilizing best practices, the current culture of an organization and any changes required must be considered if they are to take root and produce sustainable results.
It is therefore C-suite leaders who need to understand their own organizational cultures and be the agents of change when change is needed. And when IBP becomes the way an organization does business, it will become a vehicle for the C-suite to evolve its company’s culture through a focus on behavior. Ultimately, leaders who want the best return for their organization will embrace IBP as the continuous improvement process for evaluating, identifying gaps, and improving the company culture and performance over time.
8. Develop teams
In today’s complex, rapidly moving, and specialized business environment, there are rarely individuals who have all the answers. The best leaders commit to developing teams. Engaging people and building teams that can act collaboratively through the diversity of individual backgrounds and experiences is a hallmark of C-suite leaders.
Driving successful outcomes from Integrated Business Planning isn’t just about implementing a process; it’s about leadership’s ability to demonstrate the right behaviors.
From committing to planning and leading with positivity, to cultivating culture and developing strong, collaborative teams, C-suite leaders play a pivotal role in shaping how IBP is adopted and sustained across the organization. Once mastered, the impact of IBP can be transformational.
Missed Part One? Find out what the other C-Suite behaviors are to help get results from IBP.
Find out more about this topic by reading our white paper: C-Suite Leadership in Integrated Business Planning.