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Leadership in Communication

There are as many different recipes for leadership success as there are good leaders. The IABC “Leadership in Communication” series of excellence case studies looks beyond executive sound bites for the qualities that set communication leaders apart. This is not a “three secrets of success” case study. It is designed for communicators who counsel and support the most senior people in their organizations—those looking to make the business case for communication leadership.

“Leadership in Communication” series

Strategy - Stu Reed, executive vice president, Integrated Supply Chain, Motorola^[1]

Solid, integrated communication strategy

“Strategy is where all of Stu’s management starts from. He will not engage in discussion on communication or messaging without first understanding how it supports the overall strategy. A good reference point is us becoming the #1 supply chain. All messaging has been consistent with that goal.”
Mobile Devices Supply Chain, ISC, vice president

Pattie Schiele is communications director on Reed's team. Since mid-2005, she has been committed to supporting him by creating and implementing a best-in-class communication program. The initial strategic objective was to build understanding of the ISC organization, support a high-performance culture and elevate the importance of a “One Motorola” approach among target audiences.

The ISC leadership team embraced the communication strategy that Pattie and her team developed. They agree that it has contributed to the success of the ISC organization. Reed’s commitment to strategic communication programs and processes enable him to effectively reach many internal and external stakeholders locally, nationally and internationally, and to sustain relationships with them.

“Stu shows up in lots of different venues—town halls around the world, mentoring relationships with high-potential talent, analyst meetings, business unit meetings, his own operations reviews—the list goes on.”
Corporate vice president, ISC

The ISC has established and institutionalized a communication program that incorporates one-way, two-way, upward and downward, sustainable communication vehicles with metrics. The program supports Reed’s vigorous advocacy of effective, consistent and simple communication aligned with corporate strategy.

“Leadership in Communication” series – Table of Contents