How can you demonstrate the value of your operations experience to your organization?

Align operations with strategic goals: Demonstrate how operations activities directly support and advance the organization's strategic objectives. Quantify the impact of operations initiatives on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as revenue growth, cost savings, efficiency gains, and customer satisfaction. Champion process improvement: Identify and implement process improvements that streamline operations, reduce waste, and enhance efficiency. Quantify the time, cost, and resource savings achieved through process optimization initiatives. Embrace data-driven decision-making: Leverage data analytics to identify trends, patterns, and insights that inform operational decisions.

Demonstrate that you have a relatively rare talent of balancing both strategic and operational thinking by highlighting examples of situations where you have previously addressed an operational challenge effectively with a clear context of the solution being fully aligned to the strategy. Also, use examples where you've deliberately compromise either the strategic or operational outcome as there was no choice, but that you've done it by being very mindful of this compromise and its impact.

Ask "how" on any part of the strategy then suggest adjustments on the strategy or tactics to enable it's execution. Make sure strategy have goals that are measurable and the organization is clear on the measurement. Make sure there are clear owners on each section of the strategy.

Ultimately operational excellence is essential to strategic delivery, neither can exist independently and deliver a successful outcome. By demonstrating understanding of both and being able to deliver operational excellence that reflects the strategy you will add value. By way of example; if your company has certain impact and sustainability KPI's within the strategic goals, yet within operations, someone purchases without consideration to the impact goals, you can see very easily how the strategy can unravel.

By prioritizing company’s mission alignment daily with strategic goals, operation’s teams work directly contributes to building strong user relationships, fostering trust, and enhancing the overall user experience soon reflected on customer satisfaction KPIs.

In my experience, quantifying and presenting results using data and metrics is a powerful way to demonstrate the value of operations. Dashboards and case studies have been crucial in showcasing tangible outcomes for the short and long terms, such as cost savings, improved quality, and problem-solving.

This is must do step. You may do a thousand things to run a noiseless operations but if you are not able to quantify the qualified objectives you are setting then you may not be in a position to demonstrate the true benefits of the measures taken

Quantifying and qualifying results is a game changer. I've seen operations transform from perceived cost centres to value drivers when backed by solid data. Simon once told me told me, "If you can't measure it, you can't improve it." Use data as your language to articulate the story of your impact – numbers speak louder than words in showcasing efficiency and improvement.

Effectively demonstrating the value of operations experience to the organization involves showcasing the tangible contributions one brings to the table. Quantify Achievements – Use measurable metrics to quantify achievements. Whether it's improving efficiency, reducing costs, or increasing productivity, attaching numbers to accomplishments provides concrete evidence. Cost Savings and Efficiency Gains – Showcase initiatives that reduced operational expenses or optimized resource allocation, resulting in financial impact.

True but I believe an essential aspect I've found in showcasing the impact of my operations experience is by effectively quantifying and qualifying the outcomes. Using data and metrics to measure and illustrate our operations' performance has been key. Through dashboards, reports, and graphs, I've visually represented our successes. Additionally, leveraging qualitative feedback and case studies has been invaluable in painting a complete picture of our achievements. It's not just about the numbers; it's about how our operations saved resources, improved quality, and efficiently addressed challenges, reflecting the true value we bring to the table."

To me, this is a fundamental step. Sharing insights and recommendations is a vital way to demonstrate value. Using my knowledge and expertise, I identify opportunities and suggest solutions through channels like meetings and presentations. Frameworks like SWOT analysis help analyze the environment, allowing me to propose how operations can adapt to changing needs and regulations.

This step highlights the importance of being a Subject Matter Expert in your operations. Only if you are a true SME, you will be in a position to come up with recommendations that can value add to the business.

I’ve discovered that a significant way to showcase the value of my operations experience is by actively sharing insights and recommendations within our organization. Leveraging my knowledge and expertise, I continually identify opportunities and suggest solutions that benefit our team. Whether it’s during meetings, presentations, or through newsletters and blogs, I ensure effective communication of these insights. Analyzing our operational landscape to provide strategic advice helps me propose solutions that align with evolving customer needs or adapt to dynamic market conditions. It’s about using my expertise to contribute valuable ideas that drive our organization’s success.

Your experience is a goldmine of insights. What you've known for 30 years might be fresh and exciting to someone else. Share these proactively. What trends are you noticing? What recommendations can you make for improvements or innovations? Position yourself as a thought leader, not just within your team, but across the organization. Your insights could spark the next big idea or pivot. But only if you share them.

No brainer. Collaborating and networking within my organization is a key way to highlight the value of my operations expertise. Building relationships and engaging in cross-functional projects showcases its practical application. It should always be seen that way.

Collaboration is the lifeblood of successful operations. In my journey, building networks across departments has not only enhanced projects but also fostered innovation. "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much," as Helen Keller aptly put it. Your operations expertise, combined with diverse perspectives, can lead to groundbreaking solutions.

Participating in organisational events, workshops, or mentoring programs is an effective way to engage with others, fostering a culture of knowledge exchange. For instance, volunteering to contribute to cross-functional teams, projects, or initiatives provides an opportunity to demonstrate the practical applications of your operations knowledge. This not only enhances your visibility but also positions you as a collaborative and resourceful team player. By integrating your operations expertise into broader organisational efforts, you not only enrich your own skill set but also contribute meaningfully to the collective success of the organisation.

One of the most impactful ways I've found to highlight the value of my operations experience is through collaboration and networking within our organization. It's not just about the work; it's about fostering connections and building relationships that enhance our workflow. Additionally, I actively seek out opportunities to build new networks with individuals who share a similar vision. I use various platforms, from emails to social media, to connect and engage with colleagues across different departments and levels, capitalizing on their expertise and support to bolster our operations. I leverage events, workshops, and mentoring programs as avenues to both share my insights and learn from others in the organization.

An operations team in silo can never be successful ever. A good collaboration and cross functional synergies can bring the best out of any operations team.

The field of operations is dynamic. Keep up. What new methodologies or technologies are emerging? How can they be integrated into your work? Continuous learning shows your commitment to not just maintaining the status quo, but pushing it forward. I am soon to be 45 years old. Last week I asked a twenty-something year old to mentor me in emerging AI applications. :)

This holds good for any team leave alone operations unit. As they say “Excellence” is a journey and learning has to be part of that journey. Staying current and updated means delivering continuous improvement to the operations.

Embrace constructive criticism and actively seek it out from your peers, superiors and even those who work for you. Not only will you learn a lot about yourself you will set the standard for others around you to behave.

Continuously learning and developing my operations skills is another vital way to demonstrate their value. Staying informed about the latest trends and best practices in my field through resources like courses and feedback helps me grow my expertise. For instance, enrolling in relevant training or certification programs enhances my credentials and broadens my scope in operations.

The landscape of operations is ever-evolving. Staying updated is not just beneficial; it's essential. I always encourage continuous learning and development. As Benjamin Franklin said, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." Enhance your skills, stay curious, and be open to new methods – it's a sure way to keep your operations impact relevant and impactful.

Demonstrating the value of operations experience involves strategic alignment and impactful leadership. My diverse roles at Suralis (Liberty Utilities), Andescan (Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan), Deloitte, and Aguas Andinas (Veolia) have taught me the importance of aligning operational strategies with corporate objectives. Effective operational leadership is about enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and delivering sustainable growth. It's crucial to showcase how these operational improvements contribute to strategic goals through data-driven insights and stakeholder engagement. Communicating these achievements effectively is key to organizational recognition and growth.

Highlight Process Improvements – Showcase specific instances where operations experience led to process improvements. It could be streamlined workflows, reduced cycle times, or enhanced quality control, emphasizing how these improvements positively affected the organization.

Making clients feel comfortable NOT knowing something is vital, but it’s also important to avoid insulting someone’s intelligence. In my experience, saying something along the lines of “many [TITLE] have difficulty switching IT systems, and unexpected problems arise. Are you experiencing that?” Or, “the new rules regarding [LAW or POLICY] are particularly challenging in your industry. Many clients are asking for clarity around this issue. Are you having similar issues?” Trust and constant communication are essential in effective operations, especially during transition or growth.

I believe that crafting narrative that “clicks” with audience is important element of storytelling because no matter how impactful your operation is, if results are not relevant and presented to synergy, it will lose its value. Human element play important role in “familiarity “. People don’t like what they don’t understand.

Finally, remember the human element in operations. In all my years, recognising the team's effort and fostering a positive work culture has been just as important as any strategy or metric. Motivated teams drive operations success. As Richard Branson noted, "Take care of your employees, and they'll take care of your business." Your operations can only be as strong as the people behind them.