Stakeholder Engagement and Training
Make it all connect
So, you’re the person or team responsible for ensuring compliance for your organization. You probably notice that you don’t always get an invitation to that meeting or product discussion. While not intentional, this gap is your opportunity to create a presence of compliance in every area of the business. It’s time for your team to shine!
But how.
It’s likely your responsibility to ensure that your company is properly trained on compliance policies and procedures, head nod, perfect. But will your program stand up to the most important question asked by the DOJ authorities - “Does the corporation’s compliance program work in practice?”
Okay that’s enough scary stuff. Here’s the skinny on how to ensure that your policies and procedures “work in practice” and how to ensure that stakeholders know their part in the magic of compliance:
Identify the most influential people in each department (hint - this may not be the leader).
Set up a casual meeting to get to know these people and talk about what they do, where their passions lie, and the goals of their department. This meeting is not for compliance, it’s to learn the lay of the land, what they care about and how to make your team a household name in their weekly round table discussions.
Get on the calendar to be a guest at their next team meeting. This gives you a chance to insert your elevator pitch about compliance to the larger group with sponsorship from the key people you’ve gotten to know. This is a light touch intro with a few key nuggets of information and helpful tips that will resonate with each team. You need to bring value, keep it simple and specific to their goals.
That wasn’t too hard, right?
Now comes the fun part, compliance takes center stage in a series of stakeholder training sessions where you expand on your relationships and learning to create meaningful and actionable procedures that are tailored to each department. “Skin in the game” for each key player, ensuring your compliance program “works in practice”.
Conclusion:
Effective stakeholder engagement and targeted training are critical components of a successful trade compliance program. Building strong relationships across departments—such as finance, legal, procurement, and logistics—ensures that compliance objectives align with broader business goals. Tailored training programs equip teams with the knowledge and skills to understand regulatory requirements and implement best practices, ensuring compliance in every transaction. By creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, organizations can enhance operational efficiency, reduce risks, and maintain a competitive edge in the global marketplace. Engage Evolution Trade Solutions LLC. to schedule a whole or half-day workshop with your teams.