Developing a Business Strategy is Simple – Executing is a Different Story
Starting is overrated. Have you ever heard someone say, “If I could only just get started, everything would fall into place?” Guess what? It doesn’t! It’s easy to start. Just like it’s easy to join a gym or a weight loss program, it’s relatively easy to get started on creating a business strategy. It’s easy to hire a consulting company to help out. There are hundreds, if not thousands, that would be eager to assist. It’s the implementing, though, that is the difficult part- the day in, day out execution of tasks necessary to achieve the end goal.
Consultants are aware of this. After all, that’s why they are consultants. They don’t like to execute either. It’s much easier to tell people what to do and move on. In fact, most count on the fact that you won’t implement successfully, so they can come back and tell you what to do again next year.
Most companies don’t have difficulty coming up with a business strategy. In fact some enjoy the exercise so much they take months to complete it! Unfortunately, after the initial announcement about the new strategy, and when it comes time to implement, senior management is through. They wash their hands of the activity and are not heard from again. The effort loses its momentum and dies on a vine.
Former CEO of GE, Jack Welch, had it right when he said, “Experts talk as if strategy is high brained scientific methodology… Strategy is simple… Pick a general direction and implement like hell… Ponder less. Do More. Jack also claims it should take days, not months, to come up with a strategy.
So, the next time you revisit your business strategy, do your homework. Do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis on your company and on the competition. Come up with your winning strategy, and then put the A-Team in place to execute it and hold your management team accountable for ensuring its success. Spend the majority of your time, money, and effort implementing.
By: Nick McCormick
About the Author:
Consultants are aware of this. After all, that’s why they are consultants. They don’t like to execute either. It’s much easier to tell people what to do and move on. In fact, most count on the fact that you won’t implement successfully, so they can come back and tell you what to do again next year.
Most companies don’t have difficulty coming up with a business strategy. In fact some enjoy the exercise so much they take months to complete it! Unfortunately, after the initial announcement about the new strategy, and when it comes time to implement, senior management is through. They wash their hands of the activity and are not heard from again. The effort loses its momentum and dies on a vine.
Former CEO of GE, Jack Welch, had it right when he said, “Experts talk as if strategy is high brained scientific methodology… Strategy is simple… Pick a general direction and implement like hell… Ponder less. Do More. Jack also claims it should take days, not months, to come up with a strategy.
So, the next time you revisit your business strategy, do your homework. Do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis on your company and on the competition. Come up with your winning strategy, and then put the A-Team in place to execute it and hold your management team accountable for ensuring its success. Spend the majority of your time, money, and effort implementing.
By: Nick McCormick
About the Author:
Nick McCormick is a Principal with Be Good Ventures, LLC. Would you like to improve your management performance? Go to http://BeGoodVentures.com/ to download a FREE file containing 5″x7″ training cards based on Nick’s book Lead Well and Prosper: 15 Successful Strategies for Becoming a Good Manager. Act on some of the tips today! Be Good!