Communicating with the C-Suite

To effectively communicate with the executive leadership team, it is essential to consider the audience and the strategic direction they have outlined for the company. When considering your audience, it is vital to understand the difference between management and leadership. While these can be considered overlapping areas, there is a distinction.

Leaders such as the CEO, COO, CIO, etc. inspire and drive people and organization in a strategic direction that is viewed through a multi-year lens to accomplish a targeted goal. They build and cultivate relationships with internal personnel and external stakeholders to drive change and growth. Leaders build trust through proactive principles and guidelines that shape the company culture.

Managers such as the Technical Manager, Project Lead, and staff carry out the direction of the leaders through a defined process roadmap that establishes a targeted path towards achieving and accomplishing the goal set by the leaders. The managers ensure everything is moving in the right direction, and activities stay on track to completion. Managers implement defined processes and procedures that bring stability to day to day operations.

Tier 1 - Board of Directors (BoD)

When communicating with the BoD, it is best to communicate with them on areas that more directly impact their governing areas to establish a direct connection to areas within their oversight. For example, keys areas to address are metrics affecting other departments, services, risk, and security. This information can be collected from different tier communication levels.

Tier 2 - Executive Leadership (C-Level): Vision, Direction.

When communicating with the executive leadership team, know that they view the organization through a different lens than the BOD. They see the long term (10, 15, 20yr) direction and growth of the company. Keys areas to address are metrics affecting the entire organization, function, business line, and geographic region.

Tier 3 - Senior Management: Schedules, Development plans, budgets.

When communicating with the senior management information gathered and presented to them should reflect more of the department project by project breakdown. Key areas to address should include the day to day activities being done to accomplish specific goals.

Tier 4 - Staff: Step-by-step, day to day breakdowns.

Staff and team communication are based on day to day duties and responsibilities that collectively contribute to the team’s production. Day to day operations, communication, updates, and dialogue with peers and counterparts will primarily capture the information.