Why It Matters
Every improvement initiative relies on trust, clarity, and shared understanding. Without effective governance, it’s easy for projects to lose direction or momentum — especially when stakeholders aren’t clear on the ‘why,’ ‘what,’ or ‘how.’
Good governance helps you:
- Maintain stakeholder and sponsor buy-in
- Provide clear escalation routes and steer decision-making
- Track progress and mitigate risks effectively
- Align work with organisational goals
And when it comes to account management, it's not just about communication — it’s about connection. Understanding the business’s current challenges and strategic goals means you can shape your team’s initiatives to address them directly. That relevance is key to making your work matter.
What Good Looks Like
Effective governance doesn’t have to mean bureaucracy. What it should mean is having standard frameworks in place that your team is familiar with and can use consistently — things like:
- Steering groups or boards for major programmes
- Clear escalation paths
- Standardised project charters that define scope, sponsorship expectations, and success measures
- Agreed benefit realisation metrics (both hard and soft)
Every programme of work may need something slightly different, but having a common starting point makes delivery smoother and more professional.
Define Success from the Start
Every piece of work your team delivers should start with a shared definition of success. This might include measurable outcomes like cost savings or process improvements, but don’t ignore softer metrics too — things like employee engagement or improved collaboration may be just as important to your stakeholders.
By agreeing what success looks like from the beginning, you build alignment, create accountability, and set your team up for recognition when the outcomes are achieved.
A Final Thought
Governance and account management might not be the most glamorous parts of improvement work — but they are among the most powerful. With the right focus and a bit of structure, they can transform the effectiveness of your team and the impact of your work.
Ready to see how your improvement team stacks up?
Want to discuss a Team Maturity Assessment and start benchmarking your team against best-in-class practices? Get in touch today.
