Excellence in Executive Leadership UNCLASSIFIED – For Official Use Only (FOUO) APEX 29 Executive Roundtable Executive Communications September 2009

Excellence in Executive Leadership UNCLASSIFIED – For Official Use Only (FOUO) 2 The purpose of this “Executive Communications” Roundtable Discussion is to...  Stimulate Thinking – to stimulate your thinking about developing and implementing a communications plan that can support the goals of DoD’s Executive Lifecycle Management (ELM) activities  Examine ELM Objectives and Current Communications Capabilities – to examine the objectives of ELM activities and assess the status of current communications plans and processes as a basis for making recommendations  Solicit Suggestions – to solicit your proposed suggestions about what should and can be done to establish and improve communications needed to make DoD’s Executive Lifecycle Management programs successful

Excellence in Executive Leadership UNCLASSIFIED – For Official Use Only (FOUO) 3 Overview – the current framework for ELM communications is shaped by the following considerations  Recognized Need. The success of DoD Senior Executive Lifecycle Management requires a strong communication plan that routinely delivers, updates, and provides a consistent, informative message to senior leaders, Component heads, executives, and other key stakeholders  Overarching DoD ELM Goal. To maintain an SES cadre prepared to effectively support the warfighter and meet the Department’s 21st Century leadership requirements in a dynamic security environment  Communication Objectives Inform and update the SES workforce regarding the Department’s enterprise-wide Senior ELM processes, planning, and strategies Educate and inform SES corps on how these processes mutually support career goals and enterprise-wide requirements and capabilities Express leadership’s commitment to ensuring a prepared SES workforce Demonstrate openness and transparency – “willingness to hear the voice of the customer” by taking steps to ensure two-way communications Foster understanding and support of ELM Initiatives Inform and educate executives on the ELM programs and services available Instill the value of “mutual responsibility” and collaboration to successfully develop, implement, and manage ELM initiatives Establish and maintain momentum to keep DoD efforts moving forward

Excellence in Executive Leadership UNCLASSIFIED – For Official Use Only (FOUO) 4 Observations of current executive communication plans and activities indicate that …  There is no real DoD communications data readily available  While there is a Department-wide effort to build a 21st Century Workforce, members of the SES Corps have differing levels of knowledge about and understanding of the 21st Century Initiative  Communication channels vary among Components  DoD-centralized communication/management is a new concept – not yet universally accepted  Communications tend to be piecemeal – rather than a comprehensive and coordinated

Excellence in Executive Leadership UNCLASSIFIED – For Official Use Only (FOUO) 5 Benchmarking Core Competencies and Values Mission and Organizational Goals Workforce Planning Sourcing, Recruiting, Selecting Performance Management Leadership Development Separation & Sustainment Succession Management Job Profiles Corporate Values Leadership Competencies Functional Competencies Core Competencies Competency Management Onboarding Curriculum Development and Design Certification Programs Developmental Assignments Feedback Learning and Development IT Systems and StrategyHR PoliciesProcess GovernanceInvestment Strategy Supporting Infrastructure Deliberate Career Lifecycle Management Metrics and Evaluation Workforce Planning Demand and Supply Forecasts Capability Assessments Gap Analyses Requirements Alignment Leadership Development Competency Based Learning Activities Immersive & Experiential Learning Job Rotations Mentoring Coaching Separation and Sustainment Outplacement Knowledge Management Capture Re-Employ Annuitants Exit Interviews Succession Management Talent Needs Identification Talent Pool Identification Assessment & Assignment Feedback & Development Sourcing, Recruiting, Selecting Branding Assessments Recruiting Selection Diversity Performance Management Competency Assessments Goal-Setting Self-Assessment 360 Assessment Development Planning Benchmarking Culture Compensation Compensation Planning Pay for Performance Pay Pools Pay Bands This graphic provides the framework for DoD’s Executive Lifecycle

Excellence in Executive Leadership UNCLASSIFIED – For Official Use Only (FOUO) 6 How can we develop and implement a DoD ELM Communications Plan that encourages SES participation and keeps them engaged?  What should DoD focus on to ensure effective communications with executives and stakeholders? Are Component or DoD communications more effective? A mix? If so, what’s the right mix?  What is the best way to obtain/bolster support from executives and leadership for the Senior executive ELM approach?  Who are the Department’s audiences for ELM communications?  What tools will be most effective in reaching target audiences? For example, periodic newsletters/publications; online communications; focus groups; surveys; annual reports; speeches; and Town Halls/Conferences  How should we measure the results of our communications efforts?  What ELM-related communications have you had since being an SES? What did you expect? What would you like?