Strategy execution
The plan is approved. How does it become execution the leaders agree on?
Building a strategy is an important step, and executing it is the bigger challenge. Execution succeeds when senior and middle managers agree on the plan, are convinced of it and adopt it, and each department knows its role.
Where does a strategic plan need alignment?
A strategy travels from the top leader to middle management and then to the front line. At each step its meaning can shift a little. In many organizations the strategy office coordinates initiatives without authority over departments, and spends its time chasing them. When leaders agree on the priorities and on who owns each initiative, follow-up gets easier and reports get more honest.
Strategic alignment works on that distance: the leaders meet with their top leader around the plan's priorities until they agree on them and on decisions and responsibilities.
For strategy and vision realization offices: initiatives departments embrace, not chased by the office
- Agreement on the plan: departments read it the way the leader means it, are convinced of it and adopt it
- Awareness of execution barriers: a shared recognition by the participating leaders of the execution challenges, and agreement on how to overcome them, before they show up as delays in reports
- Initiatives departments embrace: innovative ideas from the participants, who follow them because the ideas are theirs
- Sustainability: an executive summary documenting what the leaders agreed, a reference for the office's follow-up
- Impact to show leadership: we measure the impact before the program and 90 days after, and the office presents the result to leadership
When is the right time?
After the plan is approved
Before departments start executing, so they start from one understanding.
During performance reviews
When initiatives are late despite available resources, so leaders see where their understanding differs.
When the strategy is refreshed
When priorities change, so the new priorities reach every level.
When restructuring to execute the strategy
So the new departments start from one understanding. More
Start with a diagnostic
The Strategic Alignment Index takes five minutes, needs no sign-up, and shows your level of strategic alignment, your two weakest areas, and a first step. The index is available in Arabic and English.