Much has been written about strategy versus
execution. Some pundits suggest that an average
strategy well executed beats an excellent strategy
poorly executed. Seems obvious. In fact, a recent
study by Northwestern University found that 80% of
organizations do some degree of planning but the
disconnect occurs in execution. So what is the problem?
Surprisingly to many, the study found that people were
not resisting the plan, they were unaware of it.
Apparently too many companies consider their strategic
plan too confidential to share with their employees.
Or
the process for getting the message spread throughout
the
organization is ineffective. Basic psychology suggests
that if people understand a plan and feel they are part
of it, they will support it. So if you keep them in the
dark, why are you surprised that execution is
non-existent?
Perhaps your company does share the strategic plan
with employees at all practical levels. Good for you.
However, 30 days after the plan is published
and "things change," is that shared. Most companies
acknowledge that a stagnant plan is not valid for long
in today's fast changing world. Does your company
keep people "in the loop?" (Or in the dark?)
This "failure to communicate" also manifests itself in
people believing they are doing well and meeting
appropriate goals, when in fact those goals are no
longer relevant. Of course, they have the misguided
belief that they are being kept in the loop, because
they don't know that management is too busy with
other priorities to keep their people informed.
For too many companies the speed of change in the
environment has overwhelmed their ability to feed
change into the company. Jack Welch, former CEO of
GE, has said that this is a recipe for disaster. If you
cannot develop processes that allow your organization
to adapt to change at least as fast as it is occuring in
the environment, you cannot compete.
For your people to be able to make effective
decisions efficiently they need an understanding of the
company's precise goals (even when those goals
change). If you focus on helping your people gain the
information they need to make the right decisions right,
that will support the organization's goals and improve
employee morale and contributions. And lo and behold,
stuff (that matters) will get done.
