The Breakdown Among Vision, Strategy, and Execution
Success typically comes from proper execution of a tailored strategy to achieve an agreed-on and viable vision. Most of what is done in any organization is based on this. If you look at anything you do, you should be able to tie it directly back to a vision. This could be a vision internally implemented, such as the enablement of your sales and CS teams to create great customer experiences. And this could be externally influenced, like governmental regulation to prevent fraud and discrimination.
So what are vision, strategy, and excution, and why are they so important to success?
The vision is your dream. It is your desired state. It’s where you want to be and what you want to do.
Strategy is your plan. It is the map that leads you from where you are to what you want to be. It is also packing the necessary tools and equipment to make the journey.
Execution is what gets you there. It is where you use the tools and travel the path to get to your destination.
You need focused and passionate leaders to set the vision. You need skilled and knowledgeable teams to build out an effective strategy encompassing all areas of the business. You need motivated and capable individuals to execute the plan with customers and product.
Not every vision is realized- Not every visionary is clear or aligned.
Not every strategy is followed- Not every strategist is focused or specific.
Not all execution is successful- Not every executioner is enabled or coached.
If you are missing any of these pieces, the journey is much more perilous and you are more likely to fail, no matter how great your intentions, skilled your team, or important the mission.
We’ve all been a part of failed vision. It happens every day across the world, and is no stranger to any type of organization. What happened in the aftermath? Did you do an honest evaluation? Did you shift the blame to others within the company, blame all those pesky external forces, and swing the pendulum too hard the other direction in a knee-jerk response?
No one is perfect. Even with a great team of talented and intelligent individuals with complementary strengths, there will be failure.
It is a part of life.
It is a part of business.
It is a part of success if you take the time to learn and grow.
But you can only learn and grow if you are honest about mistakes and failures. Otherwise you will continue to repeat them, growing in frustration until the bottom falls out.
Think back to a time where you were part of a team that this happened to. If you do not think you ever were…try again and be honest with yourself.
Where was the breakdown? What could have been done to prevent it? What do you do differently now as a result?
Share your experiences (do not be specific about projects or companies) and help each other learn and grow.
