STRATEGY SESSIONS

Simply put, strategic planning determines where an organization is going over the next year or more, how it's going to get there and how it'll know if it got there or not. There are a variety of perspectives, models and approaches used in strategic planning. At Strategic Synergy we offer a number of perspectives and a variety of strategic planning models.
We offer a 2 – 3 day program during which we ascertain the extent to which the strategic direction of your organisation is commonly shared. The leadership will be required to undergo a process of assessing the current reality and the desired future state of the organisation.

LEADING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND TRANSITION

Change is constant and inevitable — it’s one of the few things in life we can count on. We can also count on the fact that, whether change is organization-wide or specific to individual departments or employees, everyone has a reaction to it. Our organizations demand that we adapt to change. The more we know about the process of change, the better equipped we are to lead, accept and adapt to it effectively in our work and our lives.

Guiding change may be the ultimate test of a leader and no business survives over the long term without reinventing itself. However fundamental change is mightily resisted by the people it most affects. Leading change is both absolutely essential and incredibly difficult and that explains why most change efforts generate only lukewarm results or fail miserably.
We offer a comprehensive program which prepares your leadership team to manage an actual transformation process from start to finish.

LEADERSHIP BRANDING

Every company should create internal brand identity.  When a firm's internal brand, the culture and experience of employees, reflects the external brand that attracts consumers, the brand becomes even more valuable.  The brand should be imbued in each leader throughout the firm; then they communicate that brand to employees, who then sustain it with customers.  Leadership brand lies at the heart of a firm's identity.  Leadership branding occurs when many leaders exhibit distinct leadership practices over a number of years.  The organization creates leaders who are branded, or distinct from leaders in other firms.  The problem of leadership in most cases is that there is usually a great divide between the corporate intentions and the corporate brand and individual leader personalities and personal brands. This is unfortunate especially given the fact that branding is communication and that it has a huge impact on what happens in other people’s minds
Through our leadership branding intervention we work with you to build your leadership brand, first by clearly articulating what you want your firm to be known for by your best customers. We then link those qualities to specific managerial traits and activities. We focus on developing leadership capability within the organization to ensure that leaders turn external customer and investor expectations into employee abilities and organizational capabilities

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND TRAINING

At Strategic Synergy, we have assisted many of our clients to put in place effective Performance Management Systems that have stood the taste of time. The fundamental principle behind this intervention is to:
·    Introduce a Performance Management System that will apply to both Managerial and Non Managerial staff
·    Train all Appraisers and impart capacity throughout the organization
·    Orient all Appraisees to equip them with the know how and skills that will facilitate the implementation of a comprehensive system of measuring performance and do so objectively.
This intervention requires that each employee commits to performance expectations prior to a specific review period. These performance expectations must, naturally be directly linked to the short, medium and long-term business objectives. It emphasises that Performance Management is a process and not an event and can not be
divorced from all the other strategies that pervade an organisation.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

A Leading Indicator of Financial Performance

The world's top-performing organizations understand that employee engagement is a force that drives performance outcomes. In the best organizations, engagement is more than a human resources initiative -- it is a strategic foundation for the way they do business.
Engaged employees are more productive. They are more profitable, more customer-focused, safer, and more likely to withstand temptations to leave. The best-performing companies know that an employee engagement improvement strategy linked to the achievement of corporate goals will help them win in the marketplace. Actively disengaged employees erode an organization's bottom line while breaking the spirits of colleagues in the process. Increasing employee engagement correlates directly with a positive impact on key business metrics.
A partnership with us enables your organization to design, implement, and execute an employee engagement strategy. At the same time, your organization will gain concrete evidence of the impact of this strategy

COMPETENCY BASED TALENT ASSESSMENTS

You are only as good as the people on your team. It is not only about having the right skills and competencies within your team, but it is also about the development, growth, and fulfillment of your staff.  A Capability Assessment provides you with the knowledge you need to ensure that you have a highly effective workforce.
·    Do I have the right people in the right roles?
·    Do my staff have the skills and capabilities that they and the organisation need?
·    How can I motivate staff to add to their skills and competencies?
·    Do I have role profiles that truly reflect the roles I need to ensure I get the right people in those positions?
·    How can I budget for training requirements when I don’t know what they are?
·    What if my key staff move on from their current position? How do I ensure that I have continuity?
Do you ask yourself any of these questions? If the answer is YES, you need our Skills and Capability Assessment service. We will provide you with an assessment of your roles, required skills and competencies and will present you with a clear position on current capability/gap analysis. We can also identify your succession planning/talent management requirements. We will work with you to determine the scope and depth of the assessment and the outcomes that you want to achieve.

HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

When it comes to employee handbooks, one size certainly does not fit all. You need to tailor the handbook to your company’s unique situation and business needs.
Are your assets and proprietary information protected?
Are you properly disclosing the necessary information to your employees?
Having us develop or restructure your employee handbook will ensure:
·    Creation of relevant policies
·    Clear workplace rules
·    Development of effective programs

H.R AUDITS

People are your most valuable assets and likely your biggest expense. Have you ever had a third party take a good look at the systems you use to manage those assets?
Are your HR processes efficient and effective? Are you attracting the best people? Are you garnering peak performance from employees? Would a few key changes make a big difference? Does your HR's vision and leadership align to your business objectives? An HR audit is a quick way to identify what is working well in your HR department and find opportunities to improve. Our H.R audit looks at the HR areas that are important to your business such as:
·    Human Resources Strategic Planning
·    Recruitment, Selection, Placement and Orientation
·    Training and Development
·    Compensation and Benefits
·    Performance Management
·    Policies and Procedures
The audit provides the HR function with a much appreciated view of what it is doing well and where it can improve. It helps align the HR function more closely with the needs of the business.

JOB EVALUATION

This is a formal process for determining the relative value of various jobs within the organization, and assigning jobs to a grade structure. It provides a basis for; Performance Management, Salary Structuring, Career Path planning, Succession Planning and minimum hiring standards. Through this process we will
·    Determine the intrinsic worth of jobs
·    Establish rank order of jobs
·    Ensure an objective assessment
·    It will also form a continuing basis for assessing the value of jobs

D.I.S.C PERSONALITY PROFILING

What are Personality Styles?

At Strategic Synergy we use behaviour profiling to identify individual personality styles. Personality styles are the language of observable behaviour.
All personalities are a combination of the four core styles - D.I.S.C

What does D.I.S.C. measure?

How a person solves problems and responds to challenges
How a person attempts to influence or persuade others
The pace at which a person responds to change
How a person responds to rules and regulations

Why are Personality Styles important?

Personality profiling facilitates a respectful understanding of communication preferences and expectations. It is the ultimate self awareness tool that provides individuals with a detailed analysis of their personal behavioural style, providing a valuable and practical guide to make appropriate behaviour modifications within any environment or personal interaction.
Having an understanding of the D.I.S.C. system gives individuals knowledge to enable them to achieve an effective standard of inter-personal skills and personal success.

The Benefits of D.I.S.C. Personality Profiling

Strategic Synergy use work-based behaviour profiling to offer businesses and organisations a host of applications including:

Effective Recruitment and Employee Retention Tool

People excel and shine in job roles that are a good match for their skills and natural behaviour style. The personality style profile can identify and highlight management and leadership qualities, detail-oriented and organisational skills, natural sales ability, personal service and team-player tendencies. Critical to employee retention is the initial job match for skills and behaviour style, along with understanding what motivates an individual, all of which D.I.S.C. profiling captures quickly and accurately.

Personality Conflict Resolution

Once you understand what motivates others to behave in a particular way, you are more likely to react positively to them, and less likely to harbour negative feelings. Having an awareness of underlying motivations can allow you to diffuse situations before they even start.
Conflict often arises when others do not act in accordance with our expectations. When we understand the intention behind the behaviour, conflict and disagreements are greatly reduced.


Stress Identification and Subsequent Management

D.I.S.C. profiling swiftly identifies individuals who are frustrated or under stress. Stress is a proven factor which contributes to under-performance and sickness, which adversely impacts on an organisation's ability to deliver objectives and targets. Early identification and management of stress is a key requirement of modern business life, and the D.I.S.C. profile provides a tool for detection and remedy.

Non-confrontational Feedback Mechanism

D.I.S.C. profiling helps master the art of giving feedback non-confrontationally. Careless criticism risks both relationships and morale. Profiling helps neutralise potential problems by highlighting an individual's preferred communication style. Once you are aware of an individual's preferred style, you can adapt your own communication mode. This technique will ensure the desired outcome is achieved though minimising misinterpretation. Remember, the effectiveness of your communication is the response you get.

Career Planning and Personal Development

By identifying a personality style it becomes evident that certain styles suit certain occupations. D.I.S.C. profiling aids effective career planning by helping to match people with positions. By selecting the correct career match individuals are typically more satisfied, productive and creative.

Positive and Productive Team Working

The D.I.S.C. Personality Profiling system enables you to understand why others behave in a particular way. When there is a lack of understanding, comments and actions are often taken personally. Understanding other styles allows you to communicate in a more constructive manner by modifying your behaviour to appeal to styles which are different from yours.

How we work with you

Strategic Synergy works with you to create an environment where motivation is high and relationships are harmonious - where enthusiasm is channeled and every individual is focused on the goals of the organisation. We;

Produce an individual 12 page personality profile for each team member.
Highlight individual motivation indicators.
Conduct a DISC team session to develop a common language of open communication between team members, highlighting each other's strengths and value to the team.