Connect Progress with the Plan at Mid-Year.
Leading a project, team, or company can feel all-consuming. There is so much time and attention taken by planning and managing that the equally...
While it is true that one of the benefits of investing the time to define a clear strategic direction is that it helps in decision-making, it is also true that it does not make decisions. That is the job of leadership.
A sound strategic plan will provide at least these three things:
1. Articulate where you ultimately want to go: the vision.
2. Set out a high-level story of how you ideally want to move from where you are today towards this vision: the strategy.
3. Provide deep insights into how your business model, organization, and capabilities need to evolve to make this journey successful: the plan.
We can't stick to any decision.
We chase every opportunity; we don't know how to say "No."
Our direction seems to change every time a customer makes a complaint.
We can't execute on anything!
Everyone anticipates a degree of change at the start of a planning effort. These changes can be incremental, with little impact on the current team and relationships, or they could be significant. Significant changes often include modifications to roles, reporting structures, or even eliminating positions. When the strategy dictates substantial change, acting on it during the first phase of strategy implementation is best before the inertia of the status quo makes shifts even harder.
The three most significant tough decisions in strategy implementation are:
These types of changes impact the people we work with and are the toughest aspects of leadership.
Here is how to make these significant changes with confidence.
Making decisions that impact others is never ever easy, but putting off tough choices will only weaken your ability to succeed.
Proceed deliberately using the process outlined above and take time to check in with the emotions you and your team are experiencing as you go. Honestly dealing with your own emotions will give you strength and integrity to deal with other's.
If your strategy requires a significant change, don’t hesitate. Prepare to lead this change with confidence and as quickly as possible for the benefit of all involved.
Need some help, check out our Strategy Implementation Support.
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