Thinking long term, building ROI, developing capacity, focusing intentions, and energizing culture all set the stage for what matters most: assuring execution. We know from decades of research that execution does not happen without consistent attention from leadership and team members alike. Here are five ways to make it happen.
1. Provide Direction
People need clear direction in order to execute. Many projects fail because leadership is either unavailable or indecisive about providing direction. In the best organizations people know their roles, responsibilities, scope of decision making, and where to go when they need guidance. Be proactive about making sure people have proper direction for executing strategy.
2. Equip, Enable, & Empower
Many initiatives fails because people are asked to produce results without being given the resources, authority, and policy structure they need to deliver. This sets the stage for frustration, stress, erosion of trust, and hesitance to innovate and collaborate. The best organizations make a point of assuring that people are equipped, enabled, and empowered to do their jobs. The best leaders don't assume - they ask people whether they need to accomplish their work, and take swift action to create an environment that facilitates success.
3. Listen, Learn, & Adapt
By its very nature, innovation involves learning. The best organizations have leaders and team members who sincerely listen to (and learn from) each other - even (and especially) across boundaries of discipline and hierarchy. Then they work as a team to adapt their strategy accordingly. It is the leader's job to teach, enforce, affirm, and model this kind of learning.
4. Confront Problems
One of the most common 'innovation killers' is a hesitance to name and constructively confront problems. Problems are going to arise in any significant project. The best teams are able to quickly detect, name, and confront problems in a constructive manner. If it is a technical or process problem, people work together to find workable solutions. If it is a personnel problem requiring intervention by leadership, a coaching approach is used to help resolve the problem.
5. Measure and Share Results
Measurement matters. The best organizations identify a core set of metrics which will indicate whether the project is achieving the desired results. These metrics are routinely produced and shared with the appropriate people to identify and affirm what is working, and generate energy for solving problems. It is the job of leadership to require and support the use of intelligent measurement throughout the organization within a positive culture of trust, commitment, innovation, collaboration, and appreciation.
Summary
Thinking long term, building ROI, developing capacity, focusing intentions, and energizing culture are necessary but not sufficient for leadership success. Ultimately, execution is everything. Her are five ways to assure execution:
- Provide direction
- Equip, enable, and empower
- Listen, learn, & adapt
- Confront problems
- Measure results
