What’s The First Step to Turnaround Success? Building the Team That Leads It.

They weren't alone. The organization had invested millions in a major turnaround—only to watch progress stall as departments pulled in different directions. The strategy was sound. The execution? Fragmented.

Turnarounds are among the most complex, challenging, and expensive undertakings—especially in capital-intensive industries. They demand more than technical expertise or detailed planning. They require deep collaboration from operations and maintenance to engineering, finance, and beyond.

Many organizations have formal processes for managing turnarounds, but when senior leaders and functional teams aren’t aligned, even the most well-funded efforts fall short of their operational, financial, and safety goals. In our experience, forming a turnaround steering team isn’t just a tactical move—it’s a strategic one. It’s the moment where vision becomes direction, where momentum builds, and where accountability takes root.

Why steering teams matter more than ever

Economic uncertainty, shifting customer expectations, and rapid technological change are reshaping how organizations operate. The ability to align quickly, make data-informed decisions, and lead with clarity is now a competitive advantage.

A steering team isn’t just a formality—it’s your leadership engine. It ensures that strategic initiatives are not only well-planned but also well-led.

In one global organization, forming a cross-functional steering team reduced turnaround delays by 40% and improved resource utilization across departments.

What makes a turnaround steering team effective?

Here’s what sets high-impact teams apart:

1. Get the right people in the room—consistently

Bring together leaders from across functions—operations, maintenance, finance, IT, and more. These aren’t just stakeholders; they’re decision-makers. And they need to meet regularly to stay ahead of challenges and opportunities.

2. Set a clear charter for the steering team

A strong charter defines more than roles and responsibilities. It sets the tone for how the team will lead—what decisions they own, what outcomes they’re driving, and how they’ll measure success.

3. Align on the what and the how

Misalignment at the top is still the number one barrier to successful execution. Your steering team must be crystal clear on:

• The what: Goals, priorities, and performance targets
• The how: Strategies, initiatives, and who’s accountable for what

What should a great steering team deliver?

✅ Clear ownership

Who owns the turnaround? It’s a simple question that too often goes unanswered. Whether it’s operations, maintenance, or project teams, clarity on ownership is foundational. Without it, scope creep, resource misalignment, and missed deadlines are almost guaranteed.

✅ Organizational alignment

Alignment doesn’t stop at the steering team. The real power comes when the entire organization is rowing in the same direction. That means:

• Leaders model the right behaviors
• Metrics that connect actions to outcomes
• Employees understand how their role fits into the bigger picture
  
  

✅ Strategic conversations

The best steering teams don’t just manage the now—they plan for what’s next. That means:

• Looking three to ten years ahead
• Using real-time data to guide decisions
• Balancing short-term execution with long-term capability building

The leadership behaviors that drive results

In our work, we’ve identified five core behaviors that consistently predict turnaround success:

1. Align expectations
2. Monitor performance
3. Give timely feedback
4. Coach for improvement
5. Remove barriers

These aren’t just “nice to haves.” They’re the daily disciplines that separate high-performing teams from the rest.

Bottom line

In a business climate where agility, accountability, and alignment are non-negotiable, your steering team can be your competitive edge. It’s not about more meetings—it’s about better leadership. The kind that aligns, empowers, and delivers.

Ready to build a steering team that leads with clarity and impact?
Let’s talk about how ALULA can help you align leadership and accelerate results.

Next in our series: We’ll explore how to minimize late-stage changes—one of the most persistent (and preventable) drivers of turnaround failure.