How to Be a Successful Strategic Business Partner with Your Company

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of a strategic business partner is more critical than ever. Whether you're part of a human resources team, IT department, finance, or any other function, becoming a strategic partner involves more than just supporting your company’s goals; it requires proactively shaping and driving the strategy. By becoming a strategic partner in your company, you are establishing yourself as a leader and innovator - which are two characteristics that come in handy when promotional opportunities arise. Here's how to position yourself as a successful strategic business partner within your organization.

Understand the Business Inside and Out

1. Deep Knowledge of the Business:

- Understand your company’s mission, vision, and values. This is so important! These three business statements should be at the forefront of all business decisions at the company. A key strategic business partner will always align all processes, procedures, and organizational methods around these business statements. If it does not align or promote the mission, vision, or values of the company, then it does not belong!

- Familiarize yourself with the products or services offered, the target market, and the competitive landscape. Knowing the market and being familiar with the competition helps inspire new ideas and initiatives that might help set your company apart.

2. Industry Awareness:

- Stay updated with industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes. Be aware of the industry challenges and think strategically about how your company can adjust to these challenges. Take note of how the competition is responding to challenges and try to think of innovative ways to help your company stand out.

- Attend industry conferences, read relevant publications, and network with peers. Build up your network through social media or follow relevant discussions or forums to get new ideas for your particular work and/or pass along any new ideas you find to other departments in the company.

Build Strong Relationships

1. Cultivate Trust:

- Develop genuine relationships with key stakeholders across the organization. Go to company forums, company events, and any other opportunities to get to know more colleagues. Introduce yourself to others and expand your internal network.

- Be reliable and deliver on your promises consistently. To establish yourself as a "go-to" person in the company, make sure you are being true to your word and can be depended on. And IF you cannot make a deadline or there is an obstacle preventing you from being able to deliver - SPEAK UP and let people know what the issue is and what you are doing to move past it. Being transparent with people and keeping them updated is a key way to develop rapport.

2. Effective Communication:

- Communicate clearly and regularly with stakeholders. It is OK to have questions and to not have all the answers. Ask for clarification, be open to feedback, be clear and concise with written communications, and always be tactful.

- Listen actively to understand their needs, concerns, and feedback. Take the time you need to form your thoughts and think through responses.

Be Proactive and Forward-Thinking

1. Anticipate Needs:

- Stay ahead of the curve by anticipating the needs of the business. Going back to Industry Awareness, knowing the challenges of the industry or company can help you anticipate future needs and identify potential challenges and opportunities before they arise.

2. Innovative Solutions:

- Bring innovative ideas to the table that can drive the business forward. Look at the competition and see what new products, services, ideas, or solutions they are putting out.

- Leverage data and analytics to provide insights and recommendations. Do some research to support the pros and cons of a progressive idea or suggestion.

Align with Business Goals

1. Strategic Alignment:

- Ensure that your department’s goals align with the overall business strategy. Take a deep look at what your job duties are and how they can be improved or adjusted to support the company's business objectives. Talk to your manager and share ideas on how your role or even the department's role can be improved to align with the company more strategically.

- Work collaboratively with other departments to achieve shared objectives. Even if you are in a very specific role within a very specific department, such as line production management or customer service call support, you still have an impact on other departments within the company. It is good to have an understanding of what other departments are working on and how your role and department can have a positive impact on the overall company goals.

2. Measure Impact:

- Track and measure the impact of your initiatives on the business.

- Use metrics and KPIs to demonstrate how your contributions are driving business success. Data is everything! Sometimes initiatives are not as effective as you thought. Having the data can help you adjust quickly, if necessary, and change up or improve upon initiatives.

Develop Your Skills

1. Continuous Learning:

- Invest in your professional development through courses, certifications, and workshops.

- Stay updated with the latest tools and techniques in your field. Staying up to date on your professional development and understanding of the industry makes you more relevant to a company's future.

2. Leadership Development:

- Develop leadership skills that enable you to influence and inspire others. You do not have to be in a management role to be a leader.

- Seek mentorship and coaching to grow in your role. Knowledge is power.

Drive Change and Innovation

1. Change Management:

- Be a champion for change within your organization.

- Help guide and support teams through transitions and transformations.

2. Foster a Culture of Innovation:

- Encourage a culture where new ideas are welcomed and explored.

- Recognize and reward innovation within your team and the broader organization.

Becoming a successful strategic business partner is a journey that involves deep business acumen, strong relationships, proactive thinking, and continuous improvement. By aligning your efforts with the company’s strategic goals and driving impactful initiatives, you can play a pivotal role in your organization’s success. Remember, it’s not just about being a part of the business; it’s about actively shaping its future.