The Framework
The Performance Optimization Planning Model
A neuroscience-based solution for individual, team, and business performance optimization — the globally proven framework that unifies knowledge, planning, and execution through Strategy Enablement.
The Philosophy
Why The POP Model is Revolutionary
Strategy Enablement is a transformative new core business function dedicated to engaging employees in their work through The Performance Optimization Planning Model (The POP Model™) — a globally proven framework that unifies knowledge, planning, and execution.
A Strategy Enablement Lead uses this neuroscience-based model to design continuous, integrated communication programming that optimizes individual, team, and business performance. Companies can hire for this role or empower an existing cross-functional leader to facilitate The POP Model.
In the age of artificial intelligence, we must get serious about how we apply our own human intelligence. The POP Model helps you take control of business-critical initiatives to move faster, smarter, and more humanely — building in-house capabilities that eliminate costly dependence on external teams and consultants whose efforts cannot deliver the right results.
How the Model Works
Four moves that change the game
The POP Model reframes the purpose of communication, unifies planning, and builds the conditions for peak brain function — with measurable impact.
Elevates the goal of communication from raising awareness to optimizing performance
New strategies launch with internal marketing fanfare to raise awareness of change. But these broadcasts don’t include actionable guidance or meaningful relevance for individual roles. Silence follows, leaving folks uncertain about what to do, when, and how. Then, a flood of messages from leaders, managers, project teams, HR, and others triggers a frenzy of “urgent” activity — triggering the Doom Loop.
In contrast, The POP Model ensures role clarity at the outset of new initiatives and throughout their duration, improving performance and powering progress.
Unites project and communication planning into one strategic approach
Often an afterthought, project communication is disconnected from strategic planning — leading to chaotic or ineffective rollouts and a lack of cohesion across the business agenda. The POP Model resolves this by integrating communication planning into project planning. The Strategy Enablement Lead partners with the project team — or the strategic vision owner — to plan across four dimensions with leaders, managers, and subject experts.
Infuses coaching into daily operations for leadership and alignment
The top-down management style is outdated. As the workforce increasingly seeks coaching, The POP Model infuses it into operations, starting with strategic planning. Instead of dictating, a Strategy Enablement Lead uses coaching to help individuals expand their thinking and co-create plans — asking leaders, managers, and subject experts strategic questions about The POP 4 to form communications.
This inclusive approach fosters ownership, alignment, accountability, strong leadership, and high performance.
Pioneers the fusion of illogically siloed performance disciplines
Strategic Communication, employee engagement, and change management are often misunderstood and operate in silos. The POP Model reframes and unifies them into one powerful approach: engagement focuses on work, communication drives daily operations, and change becomes an ongoing process.
Through this central lens, the Strategy Enablement Lead reviews plans for The POP 4 in the context of your business, people, and work to recommend communication activities that drive progress.
The POP 4
The Four Dimensions of Performance Optimization Planning
By agreeing what’s being communicated, to whom, and when, all stakeholders are equipped to effectively play their role before, during, and after project changes are introduced into operations.
Select a dimension of Performance Optimization Planning to see how the Strategy Enablement Lead plans with leaders, managers, and subject experts.
Neuroscience Principles
Leverages neuroscience for peak brain function
The POP Model aligns communication with how the brain processes new information in two key ways:
1. Using the type of communication the brain craves: Clear, consistent, specific, timely, actionable, relevant, and inclusive.
2. Communicating continuously to:
- Enhance processing and accelerate acceptance
- Increase openness and lower resistance
- Strengthen ownership and momentum
- Improve decision-making and task execution
- Foster trust, safety, and improved thinking
- Ensure long-term retention and sustainability
Communication Programming Roadmap
A tool far more comprehensive than a typical comms plan
Through the central lens of The POP Model, the Strategy Enablement Lead reviews plans for The POP 4 in the context of your business, people, and work to recommend communication activities that drive progress. The agreed-upon direction is captured in a Communication Programming Roadmap (CPR).
CPRs breathe new life into projects!
- ✓Engaging people before, during, and after change for smooth transitions and lasting adoption
- ✓Tracking progress, coordinating efforts, maintaining accountability and alignment
- ✓Rolling up into a business-wide program to drive connectivity and efficiency
Measurable Impact
The 8 Performance Optimization Planning Value Metrics
(The 8 POP Value Metrics) — they can be used independently to assess how communication programming impacts outcomes or examined in relation to other business metrics. At the end of every project the Strategy Enablement Lead should review the impact of their work in these areas.
Transparency
Measure of clarity people have about their work, requirements to achieve goals, and the roles of interdependent counterparts
Collaboration
Teams’ capacity for knowledge sharing, problem-solving, decision-making, efficiency, productivity, innovation, and success
Productivity
Measure of what people can achieve in the context of operating conditions, including how much they get done, the quality of their work, and its impact
Engagement
Extent to which people can immerse themselves in their work, fulfill their responsibilities, and add value in the context of daily operating conditions
Innovation
Capacity for innovating the business’ offerings, practices, processes, and thinking behind them
Efficiency
Ability to maximize output while reducing unnecessary human and financial costs to achieve the best possible results
Risk Mitigation
Decrease in a range of interconnected human and financial risks, influenced by the experiences, behaviors, and outcomes shaped by daily operating conditions
Sustainable Transformation
Level of success in transforming a business or delivering transformative initiatives in relation to the quality of other POP value metrics
Put the Model to Work
Take control of business-critical initiatives
Once you learn the power of The POP Model, let’s talk — and discover how Strategy Enablement can move your organization faster, smarter, and more humanely.