Strategic Retreat: How Not to Disappoint Your Leadership Team

You leave the strategic retreat with such promise and excitement. You aim to reach a new destination that has inspired your leadership team, employees, and shareholders. This time is different, you say to yourself, we are going to change the way “how” we do business. But, when you return to the office, your email inbox has piled up, customers are demanding orders, your suppliers are not meeting expectations, and there is a line of employees, waiting to get their questions answered. Maybe next year, you say to yourself.

(Excerpt from the Strategy 4 Saturday blog, click here to read the full version.)

This is the trap that most entrepreneurs and CEOs for small to medium-sized businesses run into. They have the desire to change; but BUSYNESS and old habits keep us where we are at. This is why only 2% of leaders are confident in their ability to accomplish at least 80% of their plan.

And this is one of the key reasons why I started 40 Strategy. Instead, invest 2% of your time with us, and we will create the execution plan and accountability to exceed the expectations for your leadership team, employees, shareholders, and yourself. You can achieve the goals from your strategic retreat.?

Executing Strategic Plans: The Blueprint to Accelerate Business Value

In business strategy, execution is just as critical as the planning phase. At 40 Strategy, we emphasize the importance of not just crafting a visionary strategic plan, but also ensuring its successful implementation. This approach is central to our methodology, designed to expedite your journey towards your goals and enhance the overall value of your business. Here are the practical steps that transform strategic plans from paper to reality, focusing on the execution phase. This is crucial for reaching your desired destination more swiftly and increasing your business’s value.??

Establishing a Start Date and Defining Responsibilities

One seemingly simple yet often overlooked step is setting a start date for each strategic initiative. This acts as a catalyst, transitioning plans from the abstract to the actionable. Additionally, assigning a Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) to oversee each initiative ensures accountability and clarity. Borrowing from Apple’s playbook, the DRI concept underscores the importance of having a singular point of accountability. This is true, even within team-driven projects.?

Breaking Down Actions and Implementing Strategy Sprints

To further operationalize strategy, we advocate for breaking down actions into manageable segments. Adopting leading indicators as a tracking mechanism, we favor a more granular approach than traditional quarterly reviews. This method involves dividing the quarter into ten-week strategy sprints, enabling more frequent assessments and adjustments. Each week is dedicated to specific actions, with clear responsibilities outlined for both the supervisor and the team member tasked with execution.

To finish reading the Strategy 4 Saturday blog, click here.