Execution

Getting Things Done – Clarity of Purpose and Action

Execution is the art and method of getting things done. It is more than activity and motion. It is doing the right things at the right time. It is about using limited resources to get the maximum results. Execution requires a clear understanding of what needs to be done to accomplish a goal, to generate a result, to move the organization ahead.

For businesses to succeed, they need to have a system to get things done. Your business systems and process are the mechanism for execution. The system includes planning, strategy, action, monitoring results, and adjusting activities based on feedback. Execution takes the steps the people, the process and the strategy allocates and aligns the resources to achieve goals.

The Ability to Get Things Done and Make Things Happen

Many businesses fail because they aren’t built to execute. They do not have a culture of action, nor systems and processes that encourage making decisions and getting things done.
A few years ago, I was working with a client when I realized that not everyone was created to take action. Every week this client and I would meet and create a list of tasks needed to be completed during the week to get her business set up and bringing in customers. Every week something would have “interfered” with her ability to make progress. After a month, we sat down and analyzed things to see what was holding her back. Was she afraid of the process? Was she uncertain about owning a business? Did she lack confidence in her skills and abilities? Was she unclear about the tasks assigned and what needed to get done? Was she procrastinating?

Listen to the Customer

She assured me the answer was the same to all questions: “No.” She wanted to make this business happen. When we worked together in our sessions, we made great progress. When she worked alone, nothing got done. So I asked her to take a series of personality and other tests to identify learning and communication styles, etc.

When we examined her results, we realized that she had to work with someone to get things done. She wasn’t wired to execute on her own. In fact, on one test that examined administrative and execution traits, her lowest score was the ability to get things done. The solution was to bring in someone on her team that could be a peer and had complementary skills to hers. She was long on relationships and short on execution. She needed someone who would balance her out with the ability to focus on results and getting things done. Problem solved.

Building A Diverse Team

What does this mean for your business? You need to build a team of diverse skills, abilities and look for team members that have complementary strengths. If you have a team of idea people who can’t make sure things happen, then your business will be unable to succeed. Have people that aren’t strong on relationship building, and you may see lower retention rates. You magnify your ability to succeed when you have in place a team that is self-directed and working within the goals and performance metrics you use to align the organization.

Execution — Getting Things Done with the Right People in the Right Roles

Execution requires knowing what things have to happen and when. Successful businesses can see the big picture (strategy) and understand the actions (tactics) that have to be taken to paint that picture. Execution is setting goals (targets), creating systems and processes to support those goals, establishing a team capable of performance, and enabling them to take action.

 

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