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| CHAMPION |
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The Champion (or sponsor) is typically
a member of the leadership team who oversees and supports a “sub-team”
chartered to deploy a strategic initiative, solve a vexing problem
or develop a plan of action.
The Champion can be selected, elected or appointed by the leadership
team. The Champion should have:
- A stake in the outcome.
- The ability to influence or
the authority to make changes in the area for improvement.
- The clout and the courage
to remove barriers.
- The ability to delegate.
The Champion's primary role is to
ensure the sub-team is successful - not necessarily to "do" the
work. As such, the Champion works with the designated "team leader"
to clear any roadblocks the organization encounters in achieving
the goal.
Champions should be in front of the effort, not “behind”
it. They show their support and encouragement by expressing, modeling
and reinforcing their commitment:
- At the beginning of the subteam
efforts, frequently “check-in” with the subteam,
watching and listening, helping to shape the direction of
the team early on in the process – then step back and
let the team do their work.
- Intervene to remove obstacles
to subteam success.
- Use authority to go to the
heart of a problem in ways that no midlevel team can, no matter
how empowered it is.
- Reinforce the connection between
strategy and what the team is working on, creating a supportive
environment for subteam success.
- Keep the organization focused
on the importance of the sub-team’s work.
- Hold the management cascade
accountable for implementing the sub-team’s work.
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| To make initiatives work, it took
a passionate all-consuming commitment from the top. Beyond the
passion, there was a lot of rigor. Not only did we put the best
people on each initiative, we trained them, measured them and
reported their results. In the end, each initiative had to develop
people and improve the bottom line…the leaders of every
business had to be the champion – and timid and rational
advocacy wouldn’t work. They made sure we got our A players
to lead every initiative. We made sure the rewards – salary
increases, stock option grants, and role-model recognition at
company meetings – were highly visible…Making initiatives
successful is all about focus and passionate commitment. The drumbeat
must be relentless. Every leadership action must demonstrate total
commitment to the initiative.
Jack Welch
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