Steering group myths that threaten successful change

Getting effective and efficient change done demands strong leadership and governance. The steering group should play a vital role in this process. But if steering groups in your organisation aren’t quite delivering, it could be because attendees don’t have a common understanding of best practice.

At its best, a steering group should drive your change programme forward by removing blockers, resolving issues and mitigating risks and, as a result, ultimately keeping things on track and under control.

But not every steering group is successful. We asked 70 change professionals about their experience, and overall, only 55% of respondents suggested that these bodies deliver what they should.

So why do almost half of steering groups fail? They fail for all sorts of reasons, but there are some common beliefs (or ‘myths’) we’ve come across over the years that hamper effectiveness.

If attendees continue to be guided by these ‘myths’ it is likely the steering group will be ineffective. Our strong recommendation is that groundwork is prepared upfront to formally alert all members about why they are required and what they need to do ahead of, during, and after the steering group session.

Common steering group myths

Myth 1: A steering group is a communications forum:

No, it isn’t! It is a decision-making forum designed to facilitate and drive progress towards desired outcomes.

Myth 2: Steering groups are monthly and last two hours:

They might be this frequent and last that long but let the needs of your specific programme dictate the schedule and ensure your attendees commit to your desired frequency and duration, based on your shared appraisal of the needs of the programme.

Myth 3: The more attendees, the better:

This is never the case. Plan for the minimum number of attendees required to legitimately make the decisions on the agenda.

As soon as a decision is attached to an agenda, ensure those key attendees know that their attendance is vital for the programme to move forward and that decisions need to be made on the day.

There is a foundation of four key steering group members who MUST attend. Without them, little progress can be made as decisions will always be hampered. They are

• The Programme Sponsor – the person with accountability for the delivery of the agreed programme outcomes
• The Solution Owner – the person ultimately responsible for the design of the future solution
• The Customer – the person responsible for agreeing the requirements for, and signing off, the solution
• The Delivery Lead – the person responsible for delivering the solution on plan, on budget, to the agreed level of quality.

 Myth 4: It’s an optional update meeting for those that can make the time

See above!

Myth 5: Extensive, highly polished slide decks are needed:

No they aren’t! They won’t be read. Only present the information that is needed for the decision to be made, presenting all the facts clearly.

Myth 6: The Programme Manager should be challenged hard:

Sometimes they may need to be challenged but, more often, the support of the group is required.  Successful change is borne out of collaboration and positivity – if the steering group becomes a trial, energy and enthusiasm will soon dissipate.

Ensure all your attendees understand the above, and your steering groups will rapidly become more effective and more efficient.