In achievement, an idea is only as good as its execution. Whether it's a personal goal or a team project, the ability to execute effectively is invaluable. The good news is that execution is not some mysterious talent reserved for a select few; it's a skill that can be learned and honed over time.
“Ideas are easy. It’s the execution of ideas that really separate the sheep from the goats.” - Sue Grafton, American author.
We shall explore seven essential steps for mastering the execution skills for personal goals and team projects.
1. Vision
Having a clear vision is the cornerstone of successful execution. For teams, this means ensuring that everyone understands the end goal and their role in achieving it. Similarly, on a personal level, bridging the gap between your present and future selves is crucial. Conflicts often arise when our actions don't align with our long-term goals. Our future self wants fitness in old age, but our present self prefers to stay comfortable. By understanding this dynamic, we have a higher awareness to align the present self with the future self.
The most common mistake is setting goals and visions based on social expectations. “I should” instead of “I want”. We can quickly lose ourselves (lack of purpose, not aligned, hence unhappy) by not being authentic and true to ourselves and what we want instead of fulfilling the expectations of others.
[Image credit: Copilot Designer]
It is essential to align the individual’s vision with the group's. A compelling vision is the Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG). If the team’s vision does not align with the personal vision, there will be a lack of the pulling force to sustain the resilience required during the tough time.
2. Building a High-Performing Team
Effective execution relies on having the right people in the right seats. Understanding your team members' strengths, weaknesses, and motivations is key to maximizing their potential. Prosocial skills are important character skills, the hallmark of a high-performing team.
Utilizing tools like accountability charts helps clarify roles and responsibilities, fostering a culture of ownership and accountability. We create a motivated team by empowering individuals to take ownership of their tasks.
3. Defining Success Measures
Vision and mission are the direction; we can solidify our path by planning out
the horizon (3-5 years)
yearly rocks
quarterly rocks
and the milestones for each rock that we plan to complete in weeks
daily rocks
Daily Rock is like the air traffic control tower. The only Wildly Important Goal (WIG) at a given moment is to land the current airplane safely. All other planes on the radar screen are secondary (we still have to ensure they don’t collide or get into trouble).
It's essential to define what success looks like before embarking on any endeavor. Establishing clear goals (rocks), milestones, and success metrics using the SMART framework ensures everyone works towards a common objective. Without a clear roadmap, it's easy to lose sight of the end goal and veer off course.
4. Planning and Provisioning
The quality of a project is affected by the following elements: resources, scope, and time. 4M for resources are Manpower, Methods, Materials, and Machineries. Proper planning and resource allocation are vital for successful execution. Providing the necessary resources — such as skilled personnel, adequate funding, or appropriate tools — lays the foundation for a project's success. Avoiding common pitfalls like overcommitment, poor problem definition, poorly defined deliverables, and unrealistic timelines is crucial for staying on track and delivering quality results.
Change management is a commonly overlooked success factor; internal team members and external stakeholders resist change. To include the stakeholders in the journey of change, incorporate change management. We can adopt a change management framework like the Prosci ADKAR model: Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement.
5. Progress Tracking with Scoreboards
Transparency and visibility are vital components of effective execution. Implementing progress-tracking mechanisms like scoreboards and task-tracking tools allows teams to monitor their progress and adjust courses as needed. Making progress visible to everyone creates a culture of accountability and fosters healthy competition, driving performance and results.
Have leading indicators on top of the lagging indicators that can show the performance of the activities that likely lead to the outcome. If we want to lose weight, measuring weight or body fat is an example of an outcome-based lag indicator. Here are a few examples of the leading indicators for weight management: how many minutes we exercise daily, the percentage of grocery and dining expenditure spent on ultra-process food, and high-sugar, high-carb contents.
The fourth discipline from the book “The 4 Disciplines of Execution” is to schedule weekly accountability talks. Let each project owner repeat their goal and update the progress. The plan must be what he committed to, not an assignment from the boss.
"This is what I said I would do"
"This is what I did"
"This is what I will do this week"
6. Anticipating Problems
Obstacles are inevitable in the unpredictable landscape of execution. Anticipating potential challenges and implementing proactive problem-solving strategies are essential for overcoming hurdles. Techniques like sailboat retrospectives and issue management help teams identify and address issues before they derail progress.
Embracing a mindset of continuous learning and adaptation ensures that teams remain agile and resilient amidst adversity. Use the IPS Framework (Issue—PDCA—System) to surface the issue, the EOS IDS method to discuss it in the pulse meeting, and the ISO PDCA framework to improve continuously (‘Kaizen’).
“It’s not all about talent. It’s about dependability, consistency, and being able to improve. If you work hard and you’re coachable, and you understand what you need to do , you can improve.” - Bill Belichick
7. Coaching and Mentoring
Finally, effective execution requires strong leadership and mentorship. Using situational leadership techniques, leaders can adapt their approach based on the team members' competency and developmental needs. Leaders can provide feedback, guidance, and support to foster individual growth and development, ultimately enhancing the team's overall performance.
“An idea can be as flawless as can be, but its execution will always be full of mistakes.” - Brent Scowcroft, United States Air Force Officer
In conclusion, mastering personal and team execution skills is a journey that requires dedication, discipline, and continuous improvement. By following these seven steps, individuals and teams can increase their effectiveness, achieve their goals, and drive success in any endeavor. Execution is not just about having great ideas—it's about bringing ideas to life through alignment, focused action, and relentless determination.
“Execution is everything.” - Jeff Bridges, American actor