How NOT to Present Insights to Decision Makers (and Keep Your Job)
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The document discusses best practices for presenting insights and recommendations to decision makers. It emphasizes concise communication, focusing on the most important conclusions and recommended actions. Providing pre-reading materials with sufficient time for the executive to review is important. Meetings should include only necessary participants and focus on soliciting input rather than lengthy presentations. Intelligence reports should follow principles of brevity, clarity and focusing on implications and recommendations up front.
How NOT to Present Insights to Decision Makers (and Keep Your Job)
- 1. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby How NOT to Present Insights to Decision Makers (and Keep Your Job!) A Complimentary Webinar from Aurora WDC 12:00 Noon Eastern /// Wednesday 16 April 2014 ~ featuring ~ Nat Brooks Dr. Craig S. Fleisher
- 2. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby The Intelligence Collaborative is the online learning and networking community powered by Aurora WDC, our clients, partners and other friends and dedicated to exploring how to apply intelligence methods to solve real- world business problems. Apply for a free 30-day trial membership at http://IntelCollab.com or learn more about Aurora at http://AuroraWDC.com – see you next time! Nat Brooks Nat Brooks is the Principal of Strategy Shapers LLC, a strategy and competitive intelligence consulting firm dedicated to helping clients score BIG victories through Expert Facilitation, Organization Design & Development, Training & Coaching, and Directed Analysis. Nat brings 25 years of Fortune 500 finance, strategy and general management experience to the mission of Strategy Shapers. From 2005 until 2012 Nat built Procter & Gamble’s corporate Competitive Intelligence organization, which today is an 850 member global community of practice responsible for competitive analysis, early warning, technology intelligence and strategic options development. Prior to 2005, Nat led competitive intelligence and strategy development for P&G’s $18 Billion paper business. His competitive intelligence team enabled the turn-around of P&G’s diaper business after a decade of stagnant growth. After this turnaround, Pampers became P&G’s largest global brand, with more than $10 Billion in global revenue. Nat also writes about and is a frequent speaker on the topics of strategy development, market trends, and market and competitive intelligence approaches. His articles have appeared in Competitive Intelligence magazine, on Reconverge.net and at Competing.com. Nat blogs at StrategyShapers.com.
- 3. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby α Use the Questions pane on your GoToWebinar control panel and all questions will be answered in the second half of the hour. α You are welcome to tweet any comments on Twitter where we are monitoring the hashtag #IntelCollab or eavesdrop via http://tweetchat.com/room/IntelCollab α Slides will be available after the webinar for embedding and sharing via http://slideshare.net/IntelCollab α To view the recording and download the PPT file, please register for a trial membership at http://IntelCollab.com. Questions, Commentary & Content
- 4. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby
- 5. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Today’s objectives… • Examine the Intelligence Communication Challenge from The Boss’s Viewpoint • Propose Intelligence Communication “Design Principles” • Share Tips for Success to “Get the Message Through” • Share Examples of Better Intelligence Writing
- 6. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby What We Do is TOO Important to Hold Hostage to Poor Communication!
- 7. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby A Problem of Time & Focus… A Typical C-Suite Executive Annual Calendar Based on average work year of 235 days: 52 weeks – 5 weeks for Holidays and Vacations
- 8. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby
- 9. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Comprehensive Pre-Reading Having Pre-Reading ‘summarized’ in the meeting ‘Pre-Reading’ issued the night before the meeting Communication heavy on documentation and explanation and light on indicated actions Power Point slides Meetings paced to the speed of the presenter vs the speed of the audience Meetings when none are necessary Meetings with participants not critical to the decision at hand The Boss Hates…
- 10. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby The Boss Wants… Pre-Reading / Action Document structured to provide what we need to know to make a decision One (or two) page issue sheets typically most effective Pre-Reading materials sufficient to cover the meeting At least 24 hours to process any Pre-Reading If Power Point is the communication vehicle (not recommended), provide sufficient context and limit to a few slides (5-7) Send material in a format that the recipient can access anywhere No unnecessary logos and graphics
- 11. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby And another thing… About Meetings… Include only the people necessary to make the decision (unless purpose is recognition) Meetings should be judged by how much input you are able to solicit from others (how much they talk) and how much you learn, not by how much you talk
- 12. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Yeah, but your boss is a Jerk! But it’s NOT about the boss… It’s about… - Respect - Productivity - Creating Value-Added Interactions - Enabling Your Thinking and Insight to Shine Through
- 13. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Intelligence Reporting Goals • Provide an UNFILTERED – OBJECTIVE – EXTERNAL POV • Establish and instil the Competitive Lingua Franca • Provide TIMELY INSIGHTS that advance decisions • Develop line-of-sight relationships with decision makers • Create right to “bypass” chain-of-command
- 14. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Intelligence Reporting Principles • Economy in everything! • Make it easy! • ALWAYS provide SPECIFIC “conclusions / insights” and “recommendations” up front • Always provide for EARLY EXITS • Favor face-to-face discussions with decision makers
- 15. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Communication Process Design • Design and differentiate types of communication (e.g., alert, background briefing, action recommendation, etc.) … and BRAND them • Consider creating a “drumbeat” of reporting • Develop publication calendar around company planning process … deliver analysis at point-of-decision! • Invest in “App Friendly” reporting
- 16. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Avoid the POWER POINT TRAP • In-person communication is CRUCIAL! – Competitive Lingua Franca must be spoken – Passion for winning is communicable and needs to be spread – Faces are remembered better than names • Power Point is a poor intelligence communication vehicle – Linear – Hard to portray dynamic, multivariate issues and problems – Hides poor thinking
- 17. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby
- 18. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Intelligence Writing 101 versus
- 19. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Intelligence Writing 101 • Write in the active voice (I see, I saw; he sees, he saw) • Use expository style (…let the “persuasion” happen) • Put insights, conclusions and recommendations up front • Execute classic “1 page” approach: – Summary / Conclusion paragraph with the key message (insight, recommendation, etc.) – Discussion / Facts in detail that support the conclusion (favor numbered or bulleted paragraphs which confer the logic of the argument) – Follow-up action or next steps that the writer will execute or the reader is requested to execute Key for Intelligence: Implications for markets and players
- 20. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE ALERT Clorox AMJ 2012 Sales & Fiscal Year Earnings Results This afternoon, Clorox announced AMJ quarter and Fiscal 2012 results. Clorox continues its steady progress, methodically “fixing” each of its business and achieving growth in all segments despite underlying category weakness. Margins continue to be squeezed by high fuel and commodity prices, as well as transition costs to SAP and a new R&D center. But savings programs and price increases are covering the lion’s share of cost hurts. Clorox’s Cleaning Segment led results for both the quarter and the year. Clorox’s professional cleaning business (which is focused on the Health Care industry) grew double digits behind both acquired and organic brands. The retail cleaning business also posted strong results with Clorox claiming record market share in Hard Surface Cleaners led by growth in branded spray forms. Presentation Highlights Organic net sales up 3% in AMJ and 4% for the fiscal year. Volume was up 2% for the quarter and the fiscal year. Gross margin down 80 bp for the quarter, driven by commodity costs, logistics and higher manufacturing expenses. 150 bp in savings and 230 bp in increased pricing helped offset much of the cost increase. Clorox Cleaning Segment posted the strongest growth, up 7% with a 5% volume increase. The company claimed record volume on Clorox sprays and highest Hard Surface Cleaner shares ever. Clorox Confirmed Fiscal 2013 Financial Outlook - 2-4 percent sales growth - BT margin up 25-50 basis points, versus flat during analyst meeting - EPS in the range of $4.20-$4.35 Segment Highlights & Notes Cleaning (Laundry, Home Care, Professional Products): - Double digit growth on professional cleaning products. - All time shipment record on Clorox spray cleaners. - Lower Pinesol shipments following price increases. Household (Bags and Wraps, Charcoal, Cat Litter): - The Bags and Wraps business declined due to lower shipments of Glad food storage products following price increases. Glad trash bags with Febreze odor block are growing strongly. Lifestyle (Dressings and Sauces, Water Filtration, U.S. Natural Personal Care): - Clorox claimed double-digit shipment increases in Personal Care business behind Burt's Bees and the launch of the gud natural personal care line. Fiscal 2013 Outlook Looking forward, Clorox reiterated their strategic focus on growing the professional business, revitalizing the bleach “mother ship”, and continuing volume growth in their key international markets (South America and Australia). Clorox confirmed FY 2013 expectations of 2-4% top line growth AND lifted their BT margin target from flat to up 25-50 bp in anticipation of improving commodity costs. Here are Clorox’s Sales growth building blocks for the new fiscal year: + 3 pts from innovation and improved product performance (3D) + 1 pt from category base business growth + 1 pt from pricing (mostly in South American markets to combat devaluation) - 2 pts of FX impact +3 pts … in the middle 2-4% top line goal On ONE PAGE! Recipients can stop reading after introduction AND be “informed” Highlights are short bullets and NOT exhaustive! Financials provided in table … No wasting words reconciling year- over-year, quarter-over- quarter, etc.
- 21. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby “White Papers” are set- piece analyses and typically regarded as THE “bread and butter” intelligence product. SAME RULES APPLY: - Economy of words - Enable recipients to STOP reading early - Favor charts, graphs, and tables to tell the story Key Conclusion is concise and driven home with picture
- 22. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Look for ways to express logic and insight visually! NOTE: Not every space is filled in. The color expresses the conclusion and words would be extraneous.
- 23. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Because this is a “white paper” recommendations fall at the end . Why? Because the issues, conclusions and insights are not urgent. In more urgent or time- sensitive analyses, the recommendations should be summarized in the title or opening paragraph! “This recommends … “ “Based on the following analysis, we propose …”
- 24. The Intelligence Collaborative http://IntelCollab.com #IntelCollab Poweredby Thank you! Now how about a little Q&A? Email: NatBrooks@strategyshapers.com The Intelligence Collaborative is the online learning and networking community powered by Aurora WDC, our clients, partners and other friends and dedicated to exploring how to apply intelligence methods to solve real- world business problems. Apply for a free 30-day trial membership at http://IntelCollab.com or learn more about Aurora at http://AuroraWDC.com – see you next time! Nat Brooks