Problem: When different parts of a company don't work well together, it can be hard to reach big goals.

Solution: Use the 7S Strategy to align each part—like staff, systems, and values—so everyone is moving toward the same goals and working smoothly together.

Intro:

The McKinsey 7Ss model is a powerhouse for aligning every part of your organization toward one goal: success. This proven strategy evaluates seven interconnected components—Strategy, Structure, Systems, Shared Values, Skills, Style, and Staff—to spotlight gaps, drive synergy, and ensure every element of your business moves in sync.

Tools:

• Strategy
• Definition: A shared, evolving roadmap shaped by continuous input from all levels of the organization, aligning efforts toward clear, high-impact goals.
• Implementation: Make strategy development a transparent, participatory process. Document strategic priorities in a shared space, such as OKRs or project boards, where all team members can access and contribute insights. Regularly review and update strategies based on feedback loops, data analysis, and contributions from cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Structure
• Definition: A dynamic organizational design that empowers autonomous teams while maintaining clear, streamlined communication paths.
• Implementation: Define roles and responsibilities transparently and document reporting structures, so teams understand their decision-making authority and can adapt their workflows as needed. Create flexible project-based teams that can self-organize around new challenges.
• Systems
• Definition: The processes and tools that streamline work, automate repetitive tasks, and foster seamless collaboration across teams.
• Implementation: Encourage each team to document and refine their processes in an open platform like a handbook, ensuring processes are visible and adaptable. Use version-controlled documentation so teams can track changes and improve systems incrementally. Leverage automation for efficiency and create shared workflows that allow teams to iterate, providing feedback and making continuous improvements to existing systems.
• Shared Values
• Definition: Core principles that emerge from the organization’s culture, guiding actions and decisions across all levels.
• Implementation: Collaborate across teams to define and reinforce values, documenting them in a shared space where anyone can access them at any time. Embed these values into project work, communications, and recognition programs. Reinforce shared values through value-centered feedback system and regular retrospectives, helping everyone reflect on how they embody these values in daily work.
• Style
• Definition: A culture of openness, where leadership is accessible, transparent, and centered on enabling teams to achieve their best work.
• Implementation: Encourage a collaborative leadership style where managers act as coaches and facilitators. Document leadership principles openly, and make feedback loops integral to team interactions. Use async check-ins, public discussions, and transparent decision logs so everyone understands leadership’s role in supporting teams, not directing them. Foster a feedback culture, where everyone has a voice and decisions are documented for accountability.
• Staff
• Definition: A diverse, skilled team empowered to collaborate and grow, with a focus on transparent communication and development.
• Implementation: Build a decentralized recruitment process that values both technical expertise and cultural alignment. Implement career growth frameworks that encourage mentorship and open learning. Utilize a self-service model for onboarding, enabling new hires to learn and contribute from day one. Support peer-based performance feedback and continuous skill development through openly available resources and clear pathways for career advancement.
• Skills
• Definition: The collective capabilities that support the organization’s mission, with an emphasis on continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
• Implementation: Identify skill gaps through regular project retrospectives and team feedback, and provide a collaborative environment for skill development. Use GitLab’s platform to document learnings, share knowledge, and create training modules that are accessible to all. Facilitate peer-to-peer learning, and support each team member’s growth by offering access to resources and mentoring, ensuring skills keep pace with evolving business needs.