Aligning Leadership & Strategy for a New Era in Utility Management

Services: Strategic Planning & Executive Alignment

Industry: Public Utility

Challenge

The client is a utility organization facing significant infrastructure and regulatory challenges. The client recently appointed a new president to lead the organization and sought strategic guidance to ensure a smooth transition and alignment of the leadership team. This change was critical, as the new leader was tasked with setting the direction for the organization and making key decisions that would impact its future for decades. The new president, less than 60 days into his role, needed to unite the executive team around a shared vision for the company. Additionally, the client required an updated mission, vision, and values statement that would better reflect their evolving organizational goals and culture. Furthermore, the leadership team had to be quickly aligned to make informed and impactful decisions, as these decisions would affect the organization’s long-term success in a challenging regulatory and infrastructure landscape.

Solutions

• Thrivence facilitated an interactive executive retreat, incorporating pre-work and real-time adjustments for success.
• Pre-Retreat Interviews: One-on-one interviews with executives identified key concerns, aspirations, and roadblocks.
• Mission, Vision, and Values Development: Insights from leadership and company-wide feedback were refined to create a revised statement.
• Facilitation of Key Conversations: Ground rules and team-building exercises encouraged honest, forward-focused discussions.
• Strategic Planning: The team outlined priorities, resource allocation, and structural changes to support long-term goals.
• Ongoing Adjustments: Real-time debriefs allowed for agenda refinements to keep engagement high.
• Post-Retreat Support: A summary document and a proposal for a follow-up session ensured continued progress.

Results

• Executive Alignment: The leadership team is now fully aligned with the new president’s vision, with a clear understanding of the organizational direction and culture. This alignment has fostered a high-functioning executive team, capable of making critical decisions with confidence.
• New Mission, Vision, and Values: The client successfully rolled out an updated mission, vision, and values statement to the organization, establishing a foundation for the company’s future. This was seen as a major accomplishment for the leadership team, providing a clear and compelling framework for organizational decisions.
• Strategic Planning Initiation: The executive team is now equipped with a strategic roadmap for the coming years, ensuring that they can address both short-term challenges and long-term goals. The strategic planning process continues to evolve with additional sessions being planned to finalize the strategy and implement the necessary actions.