If only someone had shouted: “STOP!”
Everyone thinks Strategy Execution is about being great at executing your initiatives. And yes, that definitely matters. But being truly great at Strategy Execution also means being great at stopping them.
Strategy is always a hypothesis
No matter how many years you have been defining strategy, and no matter how good you are at it, strategy will always remain a hypothesis. And you need to test those hypotheses during execution to truly get somewhere.
You may assume that achieving certain strategic objectives will drive your desired results. But will it? You may also assume that doing certain things will achieve those objectives. But will it? Strategy Execution is about testing your hypotheses. So if your execution doesn’t move the needle… stop skating.
There is a lot to gain
- You free up resources. Your best people can work on things that move the needle.
- You save budget. Money that would have been wasted can go to initiatives that actually work.
- You gain execution flexibility. You can pivot, test new routes, and find what actually achieves your objective.
The best Strategy Execution frameworks tell you when you should consider quitting.
Sometimes, the smartest strategic move is STOP.