Arguably the biggest challenge facing any executive (especially those with a strong strategic orientation) is execution. Most of us are terrible at it, yet your company’s success rests on its ability to actually implement strategy.
To get you revved up for the execution process, here are some quotes on the topic from notable figures. Perhaps you’ll find one or two inspirational.
“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” —Sir Winston Churchill
“Vision without action is a daydream. Action with without vision is a nightmare.” —Japanese proverb
“Building a visionary company requires one percent vision and 99 percent alignment.” —Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, Built to Last
“Strategy execution is the responsibility that makes or breaks executives.” —Alan Branche and Sam Bodley-Scott, Implementation
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” —Sun Tzu
“It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?” —Henry David Thoreau
“Execution is a specific set of behaviors and techniques that companies need to master in order to have competitive advantage. It’s a discipline of its own.” —Ram Charan and Larry Bossidy, Execution
“You’ve got to eat while you dream. You’ve got to deliver on short-range commitments, while you develop a long-range strategy and vision and implement it. The success of doing both. Walking and chewing gum if you will.” —Jack Welch
“Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.” —Peter Drucker
“You’ve got to think about big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.” —Alvin Toffler
“In life, as in football, you won’t go far unless you know where the goalposts are.” —Arnold H. Glasgow
“The result of bad communication is a disconnection between strategy and execution.” —Chuck Martin, former vice president, IBM
“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” —Jack Welch
Looking for software to help you execute strategy? Check out Khorus, the first platform designed to help CEOs manage execution of strategic goals—with the help of the entire workforce.