We all have a natural inclination to dive headfirst into action mode, especially when implementing a new strategy. It's exciting to see your strategy taking shape, and it's tempting to become infatuated with your strategic initiatives, pushing their execution with unwavering enthusiasm. While this drive is essential for executing your strategy, there's a risk of losing sight of the "WHY" behind these initiatives.
Frequently, clients tell me, "๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐," and when I inquire about the ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ to achieve this, they insist, "๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ, ๐๐!" However, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐?! Is it to improve customer experience (for instance)? If so, that should be your strategic objective, your unwavering focus, and obsession. The initiatives are only a means to attain this overarching goal.
If your organisation is already in initiative execution mode, you're ahead of the game. A mere 11% of executives believe their organisations excel at executing strategic initiatives. Congratulations are in order.
However, if you stop here and focus solely on executing your beloved initiatives, even if they don't significantly contribute to strategic value, you're missing the mark. As Henry David Thoreau wisely noted, "๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฒ. ๐๐จ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ. ๐๐ก๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฒ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ?" You must never forget the "๐๐๐" behind your transformational projects. Otherwise, your organisation risks running aimlessly after the new flavour of the month (AI this month, something else next month), like a headless chicken, with no clear direction. You'll execute flawlessly, but your strategy will lack purpose.
Myth debunked: ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ. Yes, strive for excellence in implementing your strategic initiatives, but aim higher than being a Strategic Initiative Doer. ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ, driving tangible strategic outcomes. If your portfolio of initiatives isn't propelling you toward your strategic goals, ๐๐จ๐ง'๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ญ, ๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ. This way, you'll proactively manage your strategy execution, ensuring it remains aligned with your Strategic Objectives.
#AI #StrategicAchiever vs #StrategicDoer #StopBusyness
#StrategyBlast #Reinvent #Rethink
Author: Anael Granoux | Strategy Advisor, Lecturer, Speaker