Aligning People To Execute Strategy

The execution of strategy most often fails because leaders do not focus on the critical issue of aligning their people to execute the strategy.

The essential steps are:

1. Formulate the strategy
2. Communicate the strategy
3. Align people to ensure strategy execution
4. Monitor and measure the results
5. Learn and repeat

Consequently, managers at every layer are abandoning the idea that "good management" is about planning their people’s work. People increasingly must plan their own work, make their own decisions and learn to self-manage.

BOTTOMLINE: The key to executing strategy begins with communicating and getting buy-in to the strategy, and in making sure that the decisions and activities people do on a daily basis are in alignment with the strategic direction of the organization.