Exceptional Execution

You’ve set the foundation for a sound plan to ensure achievement of this year’s budget; a plan that will include tactics, milestone markers, goals, and stretch goals. Now, the big question is how well will you execute?

It’s not enough to know, you also have to do. And we all know bringing any plan through to completion takes a huge amount of commitment, discipline, and hard work. Here are 4 critical actions that can help in that effort:

1. Harness the power of focus. I’ve seen it framed up as “focus on the wildly important,” which I find inspiring. You can’t have 25 priorities at once and expect to complete all of them successfully. I strongly suggest 3-5 overarching priorities for the year, and 3-5 each quarter (which roll up to the larger 3-5 yearly priorities). Keeping to 3-5 per year, and per quarter, will help clarify the most important and best use of your time and your team’s time. It will help you be laser-focused with your words and actions, and keep the team moving in the same direction.
2. Clearly communicate expectations for each member of your team. Put in place individual expectations—both numerical and behavioral—by role and function, by expertise level, and being mindful of where that person or role is evolving in the next 3-5 years.
3. Maintain regular accountability. Frequent or weekly check-ins, like your one-on-ones, will ensure everyone knows where they stand. I’d also recommend creating a standardized ‘report card’ or ‘score card’ to be reviewed in person quarterly … outcomes only (numbers, % to goals) on these. Acknowledgment of effort, plans for improvement, etc., are part of the discussion around the scorecard.
4. Be consistent. Having fewer priorities means it’s easier to keep track of where you are in the completion process. Look at a consistent set of metrics (your KPIs) each week or month to see what’s working and what might need to be altered. It’s that commitment and diligence that drives disciplined execution.

The success of a team, or a company, is not determined by how much the leaders know. Success is determined by how well the leaders execute on what they know.