Communicating a Team Vision

EOC Team

From: Megan Brock, Governor's Assistant

To: Robert Dorsey

Hello! My name is Megan Brock, and I'm an assistant to Governor Nixon. As you've probably heard, the governor has assigned me to co-lead your Emergency Operations Team. The governor thinks you've been doing an excellent job, so please don't think this is about your work. Rather, the governor feels the situation requires more direct state involvement, especially in light of negative publicity.

For starters, the governor immediately wants water shipped into Brown Trout Bay. I know that this will be expensive, and that this was not your team's original plan. I'm hoping you'll be able to work with me to get your team on board with this idea.

Additionally, I'm hoping to work with the team to think outside of the box and come up with some innovative ideas for addressing this crisis. I'd like to hold some brainstorming meetings with the team right away. The governor chose me to work with your team in part because innovation is very important to me, and he is hoping I can help facilitate innovation with the group.

Thank you! --Megan

Governor's Assistant to Join EOC Team

From: Mayor Brian Nicollet

To: Robert Dorsey

As you know, Governor Nixon is concerned about the negative publicity surrounding the water distribution effort in the city. I want you to know that in my opinion, this negative publicity is unfounded. Under your direction, the Emergency Operations team has done a great job distributing water to Brown Trout Bay residents as quickly as possible. People who do not currently have access to safe water have been given instructions to boil their water. However, the media has somehow translated this into an inaccurate narrative about how residents have been forced to drink unsafe water.

Because of this negative publicity, the governor is taking two steps. First, he is mandating that large water shipments be brought into Brown Trout Bay. Second, he is sending us someone from his office, who is going to co-lead the team with you. Your new co-leader's name is Megan Brock. I don't know much about her, but she's going to be sending you an email shortly.

I know that you're working with a challenging group of people on your team—and you've been doing a great job with them. However, I am certain they're not all going to be happy with these changes that have been mandated by the governor. You're going to need to employ your change management skills to help your team get on board. To do so, I suggest you follow Kotter's Change Model—which I believe you're familiar with?

Best of luck! I know you're up for this organizational challenge. --Brian