We all have a natural inclination to dive headfirst into action mode, especially when implementing a new strategy. It's exciting to see your strategy taking shape, and it's tempting to become infatuated with your strategic initiatives, pushing their execution with unwavering enthusiasm. While this drive is essential for executing your strategy, there's a risk of losing sight of the "WHY" behind these initiatives.
Frequently, clients tell me, "𝐌𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐈," and when I inquire about the 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 to achieve this, they insist, "𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐀𝐈!" However, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐈?! Is it to improve customer experience (for instance)? If so, that should be your strategic objective, your unwavering focus, and obsession. The initiatives are only a means to attain this overarching goal.
If your organisation is already in initiative execution mode, you're ahead of the game. A mere 11% of executives believe their organisations excel at executing strategic initiatives. Congratulations are in order.
However, if you stop here and focus solely on executing your beloved initiatives, even if they don't significantly contribute to strategic value, you're missing the mark. As Henry David Thoreau wisely noted, "𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐲. 𝐒𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭?" You must never forget the "𝐖𝐇𝐘" behind your transformational projects. Otherwise, your organisation risks running aimlessly after the new flavour of the month (AI this month, something else next month), like a headless chicken, with no clear direction. You'll execute flawlessly, but your strategy will lack purpose.
Myth debunked: 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. Yes, strive for excellence in implementing your strategic initiatives, but aim higher than being a Strategic Initiative Doer. 𝐁𝐞 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, driving tangible strategic outcomes. If your portfolio of initiatives isn't propelling you toward your strategic goals, 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭, 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐭, 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. This way, you'll proactively manage your strategy execution, ensuring it remains aligned with your Strategic Objectives.
#AI #StrategicAchiever vs #StrategicDoer #StopBusyness
#StrategyBlast #Reinvent #Rethink
Author: Anael Granoux