Sundaymail Editor
Hunt For Greatness
Milton Kamwendo
Growth happens through deliberate action.
It does not happen by chance.
It is the result of disciplined execution.Many brilliant ideas, visions and strategies fail not because they lack merit but because they are not executed effectively.
Execution is the growth differentiator. Ram Charan and Larry Bossidy, in their book “Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done”, outline seven essential behaviours of execution.
Execution is a predictor of growth. It determines whether an organisation or individual thrives.
By cultivating these execution behaviours, you turn your aspirations into tangible success.
You translate strategy into results.
Disciplined execution fuels growth.
The seven behaviours of execution that lead to growth are:
- Know your people and your business
Central to all execution is knowing the engine you are driving.
At the heart of effective execution is a deep understanding of your team, customers and industry. Connect with people in your team. Cultivate personal relationships.
Develop an intimate knowledge of your business. This allows you to act with knowledge and decide with perspective.
Growth is hindered when you operate at surface level. There is no substitute to knowing your business and understanding your context.
Be humble enough to lead with questions. True execution demands involvement.
Engage the people in your organisation at all the different levels.
Know your people. Assess their capabilities and help them develop skills that enhance execution.
- Insist on realism
Max De Pree once said that a leader’s first responsibility is to define reality.
Great execution is rooted in realism, not wishful thinking.
Set ambitious goals. However, interrogate the goals to ensure that they are grounded in reality.
Understand what it takes to deliver the goals.
Count the cost. Realism requires confronting the brutal realities of your context. Take a hard look at your goals and the obstacles.
Do not fear. Understand the constraints and work within them to create actionable strategies.
Goal setting does not ignore reality. Do not run away from the tough questions.
Optimism is essential and reality is sobering. Invest in creating understanding.
Understand the market conditions.Understand the funding requirements. Understand the playfield and the risks. Confronting reality stimulates growth.Assess weaknesses and strengths. Execution that does not confront reality is a bubble waiting to burst.
- Set clear goals and priorities
Growth is not about doing more but about doing what matters most.
Without clear priorities, efforts become scattered and ineffective.
Execution requires that you set focused objectives and take massive alignment action.
Cascade your goals to all your colleagues and team members.
Every move and action must contribute to overarching success.
Define key priorities. Eliminate distractions that derail progress.
Saying “no” to non-essential activities is a hallmark of effective execution.
- Follow through relentlessly
A strategy without follow-through is merely a clever idea.
Execution requires relentless commitment to ensuring that plans do not lose momentum. Create a culture of accountability. Ensure that progress is reviewed regularly. Hold people accountable and responsible for results.
For growth, follow-through relentlessly. Track habits.
Measure progress; making course corrections where necessary.
And repeat until you have delivered your set goals.
- Reward execution
What gets rewarded gets repeated.
Prioritise execution by recognising and incentivising those who drive results. When rewards are based on execution rather than politics or empty promises, a culture of performance is cultivated. Acknowledge achievements. Celebrate milestones.
Use positive reinforcement to maintain momentum.
When you see tangible benefits from disciplined execution, your motivation hesitancy will recede, while your momentum is strengthened.
- Expand capabilities
To grow anything, you need to also grow your capacity, capabilities and competence. Sustained growth is impossible without continuous development. Execution is more than getting things done today.
Execution is about sustaining results.
It is about building the capability to get more done in the future.
Prioritise learning and training.
Give priority to mentorship.
Through leadership development, create a pipeline of high performers who drive long-term growth.
Adopt a mindset of lifelong learning.
This ensures that you remain relevant and adaptable.
Change is happening all the time. You either catch up through relentless learning or you remain and become a pillar of salt.
- Know yourself
The final behaviour of execution is self-awareness. When you understand your strengths, weaknesses and leadership style, you are better equipped to drive execution.
Growth requires introspection.
Identify your personal blind spots.
Actively seek feedback and be open to change. Be open to hear both the bad and good news. Self-discipline is crucial in execution.
Knowing oneself allows you to build habits that support execution rather than hinder it. Develop resilience, time management and decision-making skills. These are critical for execution.
Execution is work; that is why many find it easier to avoid it. Growth through execution is not a one-time effort. It is a continuous commitment to getting things done effectively.
Use these essential behaviours of execution to orchestrate the three levers of execution — strategy, operations and people — to deliver results.
You transform strategy into results, operations into a delivering machine and people into rainmakers.
Execution is the bridge between vision and results. Mastery of execution causes you to outgrow, outperform and outlast those who merely dream.
The future belongs to the doers, not just the planners. Embrace execution and unlock unparalleled growth.
Committed to your greatness.
Milton Kamwendo is a leading international transformational and motivational speaker, author and accomplished workshop facilitator. He is a cutting-edge strategy, team-building and organisation development facilitator and consultant. He can be reached at: [email protected]
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