Balancing Innovation and Implementation
Jill Hattan, CEO of Don Hattan Dealerships

Balancing Innovation and Implementation

In the fast-paced business world, finding balance between ideas and execution is an art. At Don Hattan Dealerships , one of our guiding principles is, "10% idea and 90% implementation." It's all about turning visionary concepts into tangible results.

As an "idea person," myself, I understand the passion and drive it fuels for many business owners and leaders. Yet, the real success lies in focusing on the 90%— planning, execution, and a steadfast commitment to see ideas through.

It's especially hard to stick to the rule when I attend conferences. I always see showcases of the latest industry trends— shiny objects that can distract even the most disciplined of leaders. I've developed a strategic approach to carefully evaluate which, if any, of these innovations are worth sharing with the team.

The process involves figuring out the "what" and "when" of introducing fresh ideas to the team. It's about aligning each potential innovation with our overarching goals. While it's tempting to implement every groundbreaking concept, it's best to make sure that only the most impactful ideas take the spotlight.

Let's be honest—the implementation phase lacks the glamour of idea generation. It's the day-to-day grind, requiring discipline and persistence. Over time, however, I've learned to reign in the majority of new ideas and help?support my team as they implement only the most strategic ones.

Maintaining and perfecting the systems that we've already put into place is a priority before we add more ideas to our juggling act. I have to remind myself that the ideas are like seasonings on the real meal—the implementation. A restaurant that over seasons their chicken isn't going to be successful, and neither will a business who pours too many new ideas onto their plate without focusing on the substance underneath.

As leaders, let's embrace the challenge of not just coming up with visionary ideas but propelling existing projects forward—because genuine success lies in giving the 90% the time and energy it needs to get great ideas to the finish line.

Joel Efken

The Business Leader's Cost Reduction Expert | Helping Businesses Increase Profit Margins | Eliminate Wasteful Spending | Performance-Based Expense Reduction | No Upfront Costs, Minimal Time From You

1 年

Jill, thanks for sharing!

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Doug Reeves

Transitioning Dealerships to a Modern Way of Retailing

1 年

I think you hit on a key point: steadfast commitment to an idea. We've found that when all are involved in the formulation of the plan, the idea then has full buy in. It is then up to the leaders to hold people accountable to its implementation and execution.

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