Strategy Execution

The Missing Link

Strategy is a commodity. Execution is an art.

‐ Peter Drucker

"Without strategy, execution is aimless. Without execution, strategy is useless." – Morris Chang, CEO of TSMC

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in executing your strategy?

Tips, tools and tactics for 

improving your execution

“At it’s essence, execution consists of a set of behaviors performed consistently over time.”

Six sources of influence that powerfully shape human behavior

Engage four or more sources and your odds of success increase 10X!

How do you move a boulder?

“If you want to move that boulder, you’re going to need a longer lever.”

Get the Longest Lever You Can Find

Structure

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words . . .

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING, THIS IS NOT A PICTURE . . .

Drive new total contract value (TCV) of _____ from ____ new clients and deliver EBITDA of ____ of revenue while scaling

the business for sustainable growth and expansion

Sample One Page Strategic Planning Document

Become the global leader in ________ that continuously optimizes the best for our people, our planet and our profit

Strategic Intent 20XX Strategic Objective

5 Key Strategies

Aligned Strategic Initiatives

Capitalize on a High Performance Team and

Culture to drive innovation and exceed strategic

imperatives

Optimize our customer-centric Product Discipline to drive market leadership, customer satisfaction, and

profitability

Leverage our Unique _______ Value

Proposition to deliver our brand promise of ______

Maximize Strategic ClientAcquisition opportunities

within targeted verticals and regions to drive accelerated

growth

• Executive Team• Performance Management• Learning Organization

• Build vs. Buy• Industry-Specific• Product Strategy• Product Roadmap

• Thought Leadership• Rebates and Incentives• Market Research

• Manufacturing• Logistics• Deployment / Consulting• Account Management

• TCV achievement• Direct Sales• Channels / VARs

High Performance Team and Culture

Product Management Discipline

Unique Value Proposition

Scalable Operational Processes

Strategic Client Acquisition

Exploit Scalable Operational Processes to

increase margins and ensure effectiveness and

efficiency

Regular Meeting Cadence

“Never begin a meeting without an agenda.”

“Never conclude a meeting without asking, who, does what, by when, and how we will follow up.”

Scale the structure based on the size of your organization.

OKRs (Objectives & Key Results) – born 

at Intel, made famous by Google

Establish a Regular Goal 

Setting Rhythm

Annual, Quarterly, Monthly?

“3.5X More Likely to be in 

the Top Quartile of 

their Industry.”

What factors should you consider in setting your cadence?

Look beyond the executive management level

Bottoms Up & Cross                     Functional Approach to Goals

How do we create clear linkages between my job and the company goals?

Software Tools Can Help

“The broader the base of participation in its creation, the more likely you'll see follow through in its execution.”

“If they don't weigh in, then they won't buy in.”

– Pat Lencioni

Meet Dana Born

Context is Key

Why is this product redesign such a big deal?

Why is attracting and retaining top talent such a big deal?

Relentlessly ask this question: “What is our most important priority?”

Connecting with values

Have you ever heard of Owlet?

We live in a VUCA world, things are going to change.

What happens when things change?

Here again, context is key

Building a Strategic Thinking Framework for your Organization

Hindsight, Insight, & Foresight

Cultivate the Ability to Anticipate

Hard Trends vs. Soft Trends

Killing Projects, a New Core Competency

• [Rita McGrath]

Let’s Connect

Dan Griffiths is the Director of Advisory Services at Tanner, a CPA firm based in Salt Lake City. He provides strategic and business planning, business coaching, and leadership development. Contact Dan at: dgriffiths@tannerco.comOr connect with him on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dangriffithscpa