Strategy vs Execution

When we look at a business that’s not reaching it’s potential, due to a toxic culture or customer churn, the root cause is rarely a poorly thought out strategy. ?It’s almost always due to lack of execution. ?And that is a leadership issue.

Strategy

I work with lots of organizations all over the world helping them develop strategies. We focus on the fundamental concept that strategy needs to be simple.

Strategy actually comes from the military. ?Most military organizations are brilliant at executing on a plan because their plan is simple. ?Military leaders that failed (ex: Napoleon and Hitler) were because they had complicated plans and were operating on too many fronts. ?Resources get spread too thin and people don’t understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.

Once organizations get this, the magic happens. After which, we always end our sessions fired up with a consensus of: “Wow! that is a very simple strategy that is going to take the business to greatness.” But then one things always happens…

Fail to Follow Through

The leadership team congratulates each other, then goes back to their day jobs. ?They don’t share the vision, purpose or strategy with the entire organization – making sure that team members from the top to the bottom completely understand their individual role in the execution of the plan. There is no identified way of keeping score so that everyone knows how they are doing. There is no ongoing (never-ending actually) communication. ?And finally, there is no governance to ensure that every aspect of the project (it is a project) is aligned and tasks are completed one-by-one.

There is rarely bad strategy. ?Most often it is leaders that want to prove how smart they are by creating too many complicated strategies and then failing to execute.

Execution takes vision, focus and a simple disciplined approach. ?Do you have it??

Robert Murray is a Vancouver, BC based?Business Strategy Consultant,?#1 Best Selling Author, and?International Keynote Speaker. For further advice, insight and inspiration on how to unlock your inner leader, connect with Robert on?LinkedIn.

Click?here?to get his weekly Tuesday Tune Up blog posts straight to your inbox.