No matter how many times you’ve done it, addressing your C-suite usually feels somewhat daunting. This is especially true when you’re endeavoring to gain their buy-in to a proposed organizational change. Whether you're a manager or a director, you’ve likely realized that when it comes to proactive critical event management (CEM), there’s some disconnect between intent and action amongst C-suite executives.
Recognizing the problem is the first step towards correcting it. Ninety-nine percent of C-suite executives say their organizations experienced at least one negative risk incident in the past 18 months. But only 36% of executive respondents said that becoming more proactive in CEM is a key goal for their organization today, according to a recent commissioned study by Forrester Consulting on behalf of OnSolve, Failing To Plan Is Planning To Fail.
So how do you create a more actionable attitude and get them on board?
It starts with learning how to engage those executives in a way that's meaningful to them. Remove complexity and focus on the overall end goals: Organizational resilience and business continuity. The key lies in helping them make the connection between proactive CEM and those two big-picture objectives.
To prepare for a successful pitch that brings your C-suite into alignment with a proactive CEM strategy, spend time considering these six components of effective delivery within the scope of risk management:
- Due Diligence: Ready for a range of questions?
- The Why: Which processes require what technology?
- Right Language: Can you articulate the big picture?
- Relevant ROI: Do you know the measurable metrics?
- Key Consequences: What’s the impact of inadequate CEM?
- Fluidity Focus: Why is CEM a continuous process?
Staying competitive in your industry is a marathon, and the training never stops. If you can help your executives envision the long game – how proactive CEM now leads to improved business continuity and organizational resilience later – you’ll be well on your way to putting words into action. And that’s how you run a better race. For more insights, download the commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of OnSolve: "Reduce Risk and Improve Resilience with Proactive Critical Event Management: A Spotlight On Executive Leaders."
