Executive Communications
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The document discusses strategies for closing communication gaps in executive leadership, emphasizing the importance of aligning teams around intent and constraints while allowing flexibility in execution. It cites a historical directive from von Moltke, outlining military strategy and tasks while promoting adaptive situational awareness and team ownership. The approach encourages continuous assessment and adjustment of plans based on evolving circumstances.
![Directive from von Molke to his Commanders, Buzancy, 30th August 1870, 11 p.m.
[?] Although up to the present we have received no news about the positions of the
individual corps after the day’s actions, it is clear that the enemy is pulling back or in
retreat.
[?] The advance is therefore to be resumed tomorrow at the earliest opportunity, and the
enemy energetically engaged wherever he tries to make a stand on this side of the Meuse,
and forced into the narrowest possible space between this river and the Belgian frontier.
[?] The Army contingent of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Saxony has the
specific task of preventing the left flank of the enemy from retiring to the east.
[?] In this regard it would be advisable if at all possible for two corps to press forward on
the right bank of the Meuse, and if any attempt should be made to take up a position
opposite Mouzon, to attack it in the flank and rear.
[?] Similarly, the Third Army should turn against the enemy’s front and right flank. As much
artillery as possible should be set up on this side of the river [?] in such a way that it can
disrupt marching or resting enemy columns in the valley on the right bank below Mouzon.
[?] If the enemy should cross into Belgian territory without being immediately disarmed (by
Belgian troops), he is to be pursued without delay.
[?] His Majesty the King will be moving to Sommauthe at 8 a.m. Instructions issued by
Army Headquarters are to be sent here by that time.
(signed) von Moltke
Strategy Briefing Example](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/76goupuhspm1of76cjvt-signature-ca7d767b3ba68bad8c2ea48cacfb6d9f0cc2e0dc0ed1e642456c52c879c33d44-poli-150205133024-conversion-gate01/85/Executive-Communications-7-320.jpg)
![Directive from von Molke to his Commanders, Buzancy, 30th August 1870, 11 p.m.
[context] Although up to the present we have received no news about the positions of the
individual corps after the day’s actions, it is clear that the enemy is pulling back or in
retreat.
[intent] The advance is therefore to be resumed tomorrow at the earliest opportunity, and
the enemy energetically engaged wherever he tries to make a stand on this side of the
Meuse, and forced into the narrowest possible space between this river and the Belgian
frontier.
[main task] The Army contingent of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Saxony has
the specific task of preventing the left flank of the enemy from retiring to the east.
[task contingency] In this regard it would be advisable if at all possible for two corps to
press forward on the right bank of the Meuse, and if any attempt should be made to take
up a position opposite Mouzon, to attack it in the flank and rear.
[task] Similarly, the Third Army should turn against the enemy’s front and right flank. As
much artillery as possible should be set up on this side of the river [intent] in such a way
that it can disrupt marching or resting enemy columns in the valley on the right bank below
Mouzon.
[task contingency] If the enemy should cross into Belgian territory without being
immediately disarmed (by Belgian troops), he is to be pursued without delay.
[Instructions for backbrief] His Majesty the King will be moving to Sommauthe at 8 a.m.
Instructions issued by Army Headquarters are to be sent here by that time.
(signed) von Moltke
Strategy Briefing Example](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/76goupuhspm1of76cjvt-signature-ca7d767b3ba68bad8c2ea48cacfb6d9f0cc2e0dc0ed1e642456c52c879c33d44-poli-150205133024-conversion-gate01/85/Executive-Communications-8-320.jpg)
Executive Communications
- 1. Closing the Executive Communications Gap Pat Scherer pat@thedetailperson.com
- 2. Reference
- 4. When Things Go Wrong Plans ActionsOutcomes More detailed information Add Controls More detailed instructions Complexity Overhead Lost situational awareness Bottlenecks Disengagement Difficulty scaling S-L-O-W Impaired Decision-making Difficulty adapting
- 5. A Better Way to Close the Gaps Plans ActionsOutcomes Limit direction to intent & constraints Strategy Briefing Give teams the freedom to adjust their actions in line with intent Allow teams to define how they will achieve the intent Back-brief
- 6. Context: What is the situation? Higher intent: How do our actions fit in with the whole? My intent: What are we trying to achieve and why? What: In order to: Why: Measures: Implied Tasks: Tasks, who is responsible and timing Boundaries: Freedoms and constraints The Strategy Briefing
- 7. Directive from von Molke to his Commanders, Buzancy, 30th August 1870, 11 p.m. [?] Although up to the present we have received no news about the positions of the individual corps after the day’s actions, it is clear that the enemy is pulling back or in retreat. [?] The advance is therefore to be resumed tomorrow at the earliest opportunity, and the enemy energetically engaged wherever he tries to make a stand on this side of the Meuse, and forced into the narrowest possible space between this river and the Belgian frontier. [?] The Army contingent of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Saxony has the specific task of preventing the left flank of the enemy from retiring to the east. [?] In this regard it would be advisable if at all possible for two corps to press forward on the right bank of the Meuse, and if any attempt should be made to take up a position opposite Mouzon, to attack it in the flank and rear. [?] Similarly, the Third Army should turn against the enemy’s front and right flank. As much artillery as possible should be set up on this side of the river [?] in such a way that it can disrupt marching or resting enemy columns in the valley on the right bank below Mouzon. [?] If the enemy should cross into Belgian territory without being immediately disarmed (by Belgian troops), he is to be pursued without delay. [?] His Majesty the King will be moving to Sommauthe at 8 a.m. Instructions issued by Army Headquarters are to be sent here by that time. (signed) von Moltke Strategy Briefing Example
- 8. Directive from von Molke to his Commanders, Buzancy, 30th August 1870, 11 p.m. [context] Although up to the present we have received no news about the positions of the individual corps after the day’s actions, it is clear that the enemy is pulling back or in retreat. [intent] The advance is therefore to be resumed tomorrow at the earliest opportunity, and the enemy energetically engaged wherever he tries to make a stand on this side of the Meuse, and forced into the narrowest possible space between this river and the Belgian frontier. [main task] The Army contingent of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Saxony has the specific task of preventing the left flank of the enemy from retiring to the east. [task contingency] In this regard it would be advisable if at all possible for two corps to press forward on the right bank of the Meuse, and if any attempt should be made to take up a position opposite Mouzon, to attack it in the flank and rear. [task] Similarly, the Third Army should turn against the enemy’s front and right flank. As much artillery as possible should be set up on this side of the river [intent] in such a way that it can disrupt marching or resting enemy columns in the valley on the right bank below Mouzon. [task contingency] If the enemy should cross into Belgian territory without being immediately disarmed (by Belgian troops), he is to be pursued without delay. [Instructions for backbrief] His Majesty the King will be moving to Sommauthe at 8 a.m. Instructions issued by Army Headquarters are to be sent here by that time. (signed) von Moltke Strategy Briefing Example
- 9. Context: What is the situation? Higher intent: How do our actions fit in with the whole? My intent: What are we trying to achieve and why? What: In order to: Why: Measures: Implied Tasks: Tasks, who is responsible and timing Boundaries: Freedoms and constraints Strategy Briefing Exercise
- 10. Provides an opportunity for alignment across the organization…checking overlap, gaps and coherence. Each level responds to the directive from above: Clarify (check understanding and make corrections) Report results Has the situation changed? No – the Plan is valid. Yes – what we are trying to achieve is still valid but we need to change some tasks. Yes – and we need to change what we are trying to achieve. Back-briefing
- 11. Cultural Transition Plans ActionsOutcomes Limit direction to intent & constraints Strategy Briefing Give teams the freedom to adjust their actions in line with intent Allow teams to define how they will achieve the intent Back-brief AdaptiveSituational awareness Promotes ownership Scalable Utilizes team intelligence Opportunistic Responsive