“Vision without execution is hallucination.” – Thomas Jefferson
No matter the size of your company, finding the right balance between strategy and execution is always a challenge. Many organizations focus so heavily on developing comprehensive strategies that few resources are left for a solid execution. But even the most detailed of plans mean nothing if they are not carried out effectively.
To ensure clarity, let’s pause for a moment and define strategy and execution:
- A strategy is a roadmap that will lead you to your destination.
- Execution is getting into your car and merging onto the freeway toward your destination. If you continue to stare at the map without getting into the car, you’ll get nowhere.
So what does it take to ensure successful execution?
No matter where your organization falls on the strategy to execution spectrum, there is always room to improve. Don’t allow inefficiencies to overwhelm you because they are simply opportunities to refine the relationship between strategy and execution. Understanding organizational weaknesses open the door to addressing them, and so thoughtful reflection on your company’s shortcomings is critical. Focus on the following two areas to move beyond strategy and into efficient execution:
Communication
At Synese, we stress the importance of clear and concise communication. Nothing can be achieved without ensuring company goals, and individual responsibilities are communicated to the entire team. As companies grow, the decision making and approval process can become blurred and accumulate red tape. When such processes are cloudy, information flow becomes throttled, and formal reporting lines are subverted. This limited access to timely and contextualized information acts as a petri dish to substandard decision making, and ultimately, poor delivery of company goals.
Accountability
Follow through is essential to excellent execution, and a large part of this is ensuring accountability for all who have roles to play. One of the most important things you can do for your business is to model such accountability yourself. Name problems that arise, and take responsibility for how they will be addressed. Take ideas from your team on board and ensure responsibilities for action items are designated. When a business is oriented toward accountability and utilizes clear communication, the clunky bureaucracy that can favor strategy and slow down execution is minimized.
The balancing act between strategy and execution is unique to each company, and utilizing a support system to transform this relationship can mean the difference between barely meeting goals and surpassing them. Synese specializes in small and growing businesses that need help redefining effective delivery. Get in touch for a free 20-minute consultation to see what we can do for you.