Picture this: You’re at a networking event, proudly introducing yourself as a risk/compliance/procurement/HR/other back-office function management professional. The CEOs and executives you meet suddenly develop an urgent need to refill their drinks or check their phones.

Sound familiar?

You see, while risk/compliance/procurement/HR/other back-office function professionals were patting each other on the back, congratulating ourselves on our complex methodologies and fancy terminology, we were inadvertently alienating the very people we were trying to help – business leaders.

The truth is, CEOs and their executive teams aren’t allergic to risk or any other back-office support function. They’re allergic to the bureaucratic, overly complex processes that we, as risk/compliance/procurement/HR/other back-office function professionals, have been guilty of creating.

So, how do we bridge this gap? Speak C-suite speak.

Take risk for example. Instead of talking about likelihood and consequence, let’s discuss what must go right for a strategy to succeed. Rather than debating the nuances of hazard versus risk, let’s explore the challenges that might derail a project and what we’re doing to address them.

Before your next meeting with a business leader, take a moment to consider their level of understanding of what you do and how you do it. Are they comfortable with your approach, or do they see you as the “fun police” (or my personal favourite, “Business Prevention Officers”)?

As a C-Suite Leader you want and need to keep red tape to a minimum. Encourage, no insist, that your support functions learn every critical component that makes the front of house effective. And insist they speak in the language of the business.

As a Risk Leader, or any other support function, , it’s your job to translate your expertise into the language of your internal customer. We need to move from risk-speak to business-speak, or better yet, everyday language that resonates with their goals and challenges.

To learn about turning red tape into blue ribbon, check out my Persuasive Advising book! Or, better still, get in touch with me to discuss how I can help your front and back offices align to improve productivity and achieve your goals 20% faster.