Why executing an excellent strategy still remains a challenge….

 

Good ideas are only half the battle. Strategy means nothing if it’s not executed. As Thomas Edison puts it, a Vision without implementation is just hallucination.

VUCA (Vulnerability, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguity) has complicated the business environment & Rapidly Changing competition amplifying the complexity (Raplexity) has further enhanced challenge to plan an impeccable execution. 

However, the woes to Execution originate much earlier. Any school or board room spends maximum time in devising, what they call a “Winning Strategy”, knowingly or unknowingly keeping the execution in the backdrop if not completing ignoring it. In this scenario, it would be hardly surprising to see that implementation of that Winning Strategy is left to the ability of junior level managers or in worst cases even the Sales Representative. Resultant, we see same strategy working at some places but miserably failing at many others. What is intriguing that even after facing such erratic results, managers go back to drawing boards to strengthen the strategy , tying its loose ends , remaining  oblivious of the fact that it is erratic Execution that has lead to the fiasco. It is rightly said-

“A Grade ‘A’ Execution of Grade ‘B’ plan will yield much better results that Grade ‘B’ Execution of Grade ‘A’ plan”.

Lack of Emphasis become evident in various other activities of the Organizations, some of which are listed here –           

  §   Improper Goal setting

  §  Lack of Clarity of goals / priorities

  §  Dilution of Focus

  §  Improper measurement tools

  §  Emphasis on Lag Indicators

As a result, we see, company after company struggling in producing the desired results. In today’s times, awareness about this issue has increased & people started believing that Strategies in most industries & sectors have become ‘Generic’ & it is Execution that is fast becoming the differentiator.

There is wide consensus about the importance of Execution & principles of Execution, which are listed below are also being talked about –

  §  Clarity about Goals

  §  Commitment about Goals

  §  Translating Goals to everyday work

  §  Enabling teams 

  §  Synergy

  §  Accountability

But, ironically the challenge remains how to execute these principle of Execution & the problem is grave as excellence in Execution may in fact represent one of the single largest growth opportunity market currently has. Of course, there are constraints, barriers & challenges that organization faces in Execution but looking at the dividends, it has to offer, it is worth taking this journey.

To facilitate this transition to an Organization that excel in Execution Sean Covey & his team has given “The 4 Disciplines of Execution” following which it is certain that organizations will become not only good in executing but will achieve results which were earlier believed to be unattainable. And there is help available, if you decide to take this voyage to climb the ladder to Success thro’ Excellence in Execution.