Tips to excel in execution and deliver successful outcomes

Strategy execution is key for any organization. Have outlined some of the important learning's/tips  which have served me incredibly over the years , to excel in strategy execution . These are in no particular order.

1. Define clearly what success looks like : It's very important to define clearly what success looks like with our customers and our leadership to ensure that the expectations are well captured ahead of time. A due date cannot be a success metric, 

2.  Accountability  - There is an old saying " When everyone's in charge, there is no one in charge".  The first step for any successful execution is to appoint an owner who will be accountable for the outcomes of the project . In other words, who’s ultimately accountable for making sure that what the team needs to do gets done? It doesn’t mean this person is the only one doing the work; it simply means s/he is on top of it. The secret of using accountability to the fullest is by making the accountability visible.

3. Focus on outcomes and not activities :  Often times I have seen teams confuse activity with outcomes, Outcomes are the generally measurable, end result — which matters to the business. Activities, however, are a set of tactics that are used to achieve that outcome. Many of the activities create some benefit, but its important to clearly have the outcomes defined and ensure that teams are working on the right activities to achieve the outcome . An easy way to check is if the activities completed are making any tangible difference to the outcomes ? Is this most effective use of the team's time ? If the answer is no, re-think of your activities.

4. Have an end to end plan :  Begin with the end in mind,  the popular discipline outlined by Franklin Covey is a key element in execution. It's very important to have a clear vision of desired direction/ destination and develop an end to end execution plan . The plan should be having the activities which will result in the outcomes expected.

5. Measure both lead and lag metrics : A lead metrics tells us how likely we are to achieve the goal, whereas lag metrics, always tells us what happened . The best way to manage performance is to merge the insights from lag metrics with more forward-looking insights and predictions from lead metrics.

6. Transparency  : Transparency with all internal and external stakeholders is an important element of execution. This avoids confusion , rework and disorganization.  Being transparent with the leadership builds trust and enables to get support and guidance when needed.   Reporting risks and issues in a timely fashion ,  easy and regular access to all materials related to the initiative to all stakeholders are some examples of transparency.

7. Dashboard :     It always is a good practice to establish a simple dashboard aligned with all the stakeholders and published on a regular basis . The dashboard needs to be outcomes focused, with lead and lag indicators. It is a perfect tool to communicate progress across all stakeholders also holds people accountable.

8. Empowered team  : People are the backbone for any successful execution. It is important to hire right talent with the right skills, keep them well informed about the strategy and end goals, empower them and hold them accountable.

9. Cadence : Establishing a regular cadence to review is critical. It is important to do them rigorously and well. The cadence can be daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly whichever is deemed appropriate. This provides a forum for leaders to review progress, talk tough issues and make decisions.

10.Celebrate :   Acknowledging the  quick wins and critical milestones  completed  is very much needed. Celebrating those milestones  goes a long way in boosting the morale of the team .