Closing the Gap Between Strategy and Execution
Implementing strategy is surprisingly difficult to do. According to research, 1 in 2 strategy initiatives fail to be properly executed.* Unaware of these terrible odds, many organisations embark on new strategic directions without being mindful of common pitfalls. In this blog we provide ideas on what you can do to close the gap between strategy and execution. Read on to learn more…
A failure to execute
There are any number of ways a well-planned strategy can come off the rails. Competing priorities, differing views of success, a lack of buy-in from leadership or poor communication are some of the common pitfalls.
Before executing strategy, reflect on past experiences and try to identify any gaps. “Consider a time when strategy execution went well,” suggests leadership coach Jono Brent at a recent Safe Step workshop. “What conditions were present? When things haven't gone well, what conditions were missing?
Have crystal-clear aspirational goals
Have you ever been confronted by competing priorities or different views of success? Misalignment is a recipe for disaster when it comes to strategy execution.
When executing strategy, it’s crucial for leadership teams to be united in their vision. Resistance, objections, or a lack of context can be damaging and will filter-down throughout the organisation. Spend time thinking about your long-term (10+ years) vision. What’s required to get you there?
“Strategy execution is hard, you can’t get away from that,” explains Jono Brent. “It’s made harder if you’re not clearly aligned on the aspirational future you want. If you’re struggling with strategy execution, have a look to your future and make sure you’re all singing from the same song sheet.”
Focus on the ‘why?’
Ever wondered why people say they are committed to strategic initiatives, but when it comes to taking action, they respond with apathy or resistance? The answer could be misaligned context.
Understanding the ‘why’ behind your vision for the future keeps everyone aligned and committed. “Context shapes action and behaviour”, explains leadership coach Greg Lazzaro.
“A team must create regular time and space to establish a shared context,” agrees Jono Brent. “This happens best through ongoing conversation.”
Enrol, don’t broadcast
The best laid plans are useless if they fall upon deaf ears. Instead of simply broadcasting your vision, invest time in enrolling others within the organisation.
Greg and Jono’s tips for enrolment
- Communicate your vision clearly, so others can easily understand, remember and repeat it.
- Enrol others in your vision by presenting it in a way in which each person sees it as a compelling personal opportunity (compelling to them)
- Invite each person to freely commit personally to the realisation of the vision. Enrolment ends with a request.
- Enrolment involves on ongoing process of recommitment
Match your operating model to your aspirational goals
When driving change, have you ever been confronted by a gap between the behaviour you want and the behaviour you get? Have you considered whether your operating models match your aspirational goals?
Measurement drives behaviour. People who are labelled ‘change resistant’ are often being measured on metrics that don’t support change.
Review your governance, systems and structures. Do these support your long-term vision? A business that wants to innovate should encourage people to take calculated risks and it’s systems should be free of red-tape, for example
Build learning cycles into your execution process
Acknowledging imperfections and striving for constant improvement is a recipe for success. Many high-performing teams have a learning cycle built into their processes.
Jono Brent sees the value of learning from mistakes and constantly refining plans. Instead of the standard ‘ready, aim, fire’, he suggests shifting to a ‘ready, fire, aim’ approach. “Too often we focus on completing an action, rather than learning how to adapt to remain on right path,” he says.
Build-in time to experiment. Allow people time to reflect, review and learn. Embrace a philosophy of ongoing learning to support breakthroughs
How we can help
The Safe Step is a recruitment and search consultancy specialising in workplace health, safety, environment and wellbeing.
We connect HSE leaders with proven track-records executing strategy with organisations willing to invest in success.
We believe that achieving something great is rarely done alone. We help bring together the right mix of the right minds (a carefully considered collective of skills, ideas, care and character). When this happens, nothing is impossible.
We make great things happen in the world of work by helping people find their people
In Your Corner is a team of advisors, coaches and subject matter experts including Jono Brent and Greg Lazzaro, who support leaders to design and deliver breakthroughs. Their approach to high-performance includes four key components: shifting mindset, establishing a stand, developing strategy and enhancing capability.
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