If 70% of strategies fail, why don't we get better at this? Here are some insights from leaders and organisations I engage with… and two things to consider to overcome the barriers.

THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES THE WORLD LIKE YOU DO, IS YOU

We are often oblivious to the fact that others don't see things exactly like we do.

In a world where extreme busyness has become the norm, we hardly have the time to stop.

We now have even less time to consider the perspective or standpoint of those receiving our communications and strategies.

That means we don't make the effort to explain, and we work from the assumption that the other person has understood.

If that’s the case, strategy will remain hypothetical.

THE DAY-TO-DAY TAKES OVER

Consider that the "new strategy" hasn't really been understood and the fact that humans naturally converge to what they are comfortable with…. In other words, the way we are already doing things.

That makes it hard to create the necessary change momentum.

Our day-to-day will take over. And it does a formidable job of keeping us busy.

PLANNINGITIS

Another phenomenon, that I saw firsthand in an organisation I worked for is that there was an endless planning cycle.

The 3-year strategic planning was followed by the annual planning, which then became the budget…. But the issue was that it lasted the whole year!

The result was that it became a constant leaderships focus… and consequently a priority for everyone else.

That will kill execution very swiftly.

SO HOW DO WE OVERCOME THIS?

Good news is that there are ways to address this. The bad news is that it takes considerable effort. As shared in other posts, it's paramount that you start with clarity at the top. Once you do that you:

ENSURE YOU TRANSLATE STRATEGY AT EVERY LEVEL

This is a dynamic process where every level, function, region can translate the strategy into their own & clearly define how they will contribute to the organisation achieving its mission/vision. Catchball from lean management is one such process.

If you think this takes too much time, then, unfortunately, you're leaving strategy adoption to chance.

LINK INDIVIDUAL OBJECTIVES TO KEY STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

In a surprising number of organisations, individual goals are not clearly connected to key strategic priorities.

Here's a test. Review your goals and that of the team - that they are measured by - then see how well connected they are to the key strategic initiatives of the company and your organisation.

This should be crystal clear otherwise business-as-usual will win that battle!