Importance of Execution in Innovation Success

“Execution is 95%.” - Daniel Ek, founder of Spotify That makes execution 20x more important than product ideas or vision. Yet, it’s far less talked about. These are the elements of great product execution: 1. Being code-ready Many stretched PMs pass on specs to engineering that aren’t code-ready. They miss a corner case, having bug-free design, or key technical understanding. You have to write a great PRD and have worked through user & technical details to be “code ready.” 2. Defining incremental releases Product execution is about translating vision and strategy to releases. Although the product vision is always grand, it’s a mistake to get there in one step. You have to build-ship-learn fast. Driving that cycle is the essence of execution. 3. Building things that match the team’s skills The magic of execution done right is it “fits.” It’s about working through the “little” details. When defining incremental releases, customize to the team. It’s best to reframe work that might throw off the team’s rhythm. 4. Pre-covering measurement Getting into executional details means working with analytics in advance to define the target metrics, how to set up the experiment, and whether eng understand the events & telemetry to put in place. Shallow PMs tend to miss one of these. 5. Volunteering to unblock the engineering team When building product in modern companies, numerous questions and dependencies arise. Great product execution is about recognizing & then volunteering to unblock these issues. It’s about being in the trenches of building. 6. Increasing the well-being of designers & engineers Great product execution is about thinking far enough ahead to minimize crunch. The worst mistake is burning out the team. The best, like Daniel, go further and motivate the team to see possibility when roadblocks arise. 7. Involving legal & compliance at the right times Sloppy execution treats compliance & legal as afterthoughts. Great execution builds in enough time for them to feedback & review designs. Poor execution experiences delays because this is missed. 8. Building the necessary cross-functional support Products almost always have implications for other teams: sales, marketing, support, other product teams. Execution is about making sure all those impacted teams are okay - ideally, happy - with the feature. 9. Keeping a close eye on the metrics Great execution means owning the outcome. You become the one people go to explain your team’s metrics. You should know the drivers of the big changes first. 10. Juggling all of these balls in the air at once Great execution is all about great prioritization. You have to do these 10 tasks and more. The key is to understand what can fall under the table, can be “just okay,” and must be done really well. As Daniel says, “If you keep executing, the right person will figure out how to sell umbrellas in the Sahara.”

Do you know how to execute? How about your team? Can you develop a plan or strategy and implement it with the confidence that everyone will contribute to its success and convert it to tangible results? This is what execution-focused leaders do. An execution-focused leader can be counted upon to deliver on an organization's promises. These leaders are distinguished by their ability to take decisive action, manage resources effectively, and drive projects to completion. While all leaders and managers will tell you they aim to achieve organizational goals, execution-focused leaders deliver. Several characteristics separate execution-focused leaders from others who lead and manage by title, rank, or position: They have a results-oriented mindset. Execution-focused leaders prioritize outcomes over problems. They understand their role is to solve problems and get their people to accomplish the goals that will drive organizational success. They make decisions proactively. Unlike leaders who hesitate or overanalyze decisions, execution-focused leaders make timely and informed decisions. They understand the importance of moving forward and driving progress. They manage the resources available to them efficiently. They optimize available resources, whether time, materials, money, or talent, to ensure maximum efficiency and productivity. They do this best in environments where resources are limited. They help their team remain accountable. No one can make someone else accountable; every person must want to do it. Execution-focused leaders do this by setting clear expectations, establishing measurable goals, and holding people to their commitments. This creates a culture of ownership. Communication must also be a key strength of execution-focused leaders. They are adept at articulating goals, ensuring everyone is aligned, understands their role, and can contribute effectively to the organization's strategic objectives. Participation is mandatory. These special leaders are adaptable and flexible when necessary. They can navigate changes, pivot as needed, and adjust actions based on evolving circumstances, never losing sight of the end goal. They understand the importance of timely execution and work to prevent delays, thinking ahead, and seeing around corners, anticipating what must be done next. They do this with a level of urgency where rapid response to change is a competitive advantage. While other leadership styles may prioritize certain management aspects, execution-focused leaders stand out for their commitment to translating plans into concrete achievements. Are your leaders and your people execution focused? Or does work get assigned, and everyone hopes it gets completed? That everything will work out for the best in the end? #ceos #leadership #executionfocused #strategy For more strategy execution-focused insights, check out my weekly leadership offerings at https://lnkd.in/g6KSPxA4

“Execution is the innovation.” I first heard this from Rob Mee, someone I looked up to as an incredible innovator. It made me completely reframe everything I thought I had learned from the organization he had built. It was dedication to execution, not innovation that made it work. The platter was a result, not a strategy. I can’t unsee it. Everywhere I look, people are caught up in battles over the right idea. Not just novel product ideas, but also their org designs, methods, etc. The path to success is obsessing over execution. And not executing novel ideas, but usually really boring, longstanding ones. This also applies execution models tuned for discovery. In disciplined execution you will not only be able to test ideas, but discover them. The order matters, though. Doing things right is the only reliable way to repeatably discover the right things. The survivor’s bias we have around those who got lucky prevents us from seeing that. Luck is not a strategy. Put all your energy into into refining execution for innovation, not ideas, and you will become an innovation engine. And as always, think big but start small. Before you try to build a software delivery organization, try building a software delivery team. Before mapping an entire enterprise, try mapping a single value stream. Before deprecating an entire heritage system, try deprecating a feature. Then OBSESS over better execution instead of better ideas. The latter will come from the former. The former will rarely come from the latter (luck). Want to lead transformation? Start a software team with execution processes for rapid discovery and scaling. Be a leadership team with the same. At some point the PowerPoints have to stop and the work has to start. My experience is that the ideal point at which to do that comes much earlier than most people think, and the ideas that work are a lot more boring than they expect. Just get started. #govtech #innovation #devops #devsecops #digitaltransformation

Think of strategy execution as a vital bridge that connects your organization's vision with its tangible outcomes, making it more efficient, adaptable, and competitive. It's where you will find your productive power. It involves implementing well-defined plans, allocating resources efficiently, and aligning organizational efforts with your annual strategic objectives. Most leaders and their teams overlook the science of managing the details. The reasons why strategy execution makes an organization better and more productive are numerous and impactful. 1) A well-executed strategy provides clear direction for your people. It ensures everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, providing your team with a sense of purpose and motivation. 2) Effective strategy execution optimizes resources, including time, finances, and human capital. It works to minimize waste and allocate resources to the most needed areas, leading to increased efficiency and improved performance. 3) Robust execution lets you respond quickly to market shifts and emerging opportunities or threats. Companies that can adapt their strategies as their operating circumstances change stay ahead of the competition and navigate uncertain times more effectively. 4) Greater employee engagement is another benefit of strategy execution, as an engaged team will go the extra mile, leading to higher productivity and lower turnover. Involving your people in decision-making, clarifying objectives, and recognizing their contributions helps to make your business a "preferred place to work." 5) Strategy execution enables your organization to identify areas that need improvement and make data-driven decisions to keep it on track. Measuring and monitoring your leading performance indicators must be standard operating practice. 6) Strategy execution causes effective communication to happen. It creates transparency by disseminating information, clarifying expectations, and ensuring alignment at all levels. Improved communication breaks down silos and gets your people collaborating. 7) Successful strategy execution can lead to sustainable competitive advantage. When you can execute your strategies effectively, you are better positioned to innovate consistently, capitalize on opportunities, attract new customers, and outperform your competitors. 8) Strategy execution is customer-centric and leads to a greater focus on customer satisfaction. It leads to better outcomes and experiences, resulting in satisfied customers who become loyal advocates and drive positive repeat business. Strategy execution is the backbone of organizational success. It transforms the abstract into tangible results and empowers your business to adapt, thrive, and lead its industry or segment. All this is on the other side of that bridge that connects your vision to your needed outcomes. Where do you get your productive power from? #ceos #leadership #strategy #execution

🚀 "Execution: The Game Changer in Business Success" 🚀 In today's fast-paced business world, we often encounter an intriguing paradox. While innovative ideas and strategies abound, a silent killer is lurking in the shadows - the lack of execution. As Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan highlight in their insightful book "Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done," many companies struggle not because of flawed strategies, but due to a failure in executing those strategies effectively. The gap between vision and reality is not just about ideas; it's about action, about making things happen. 🔍 The Hidden Challenge: Execution is often overlooked, yet it's the cornerstone of success. It's not the glamorous part of business; it's the gritty, day-to-day operation that turns plans into results. This is where the real test of leadership and organizational strength lies. 🌟 Transforming Execution into an Advantage: To excel in today's competitive landscape, we must embrace execution as a discipline. It's not just about setting goals but also rigorously following through, adapting, and ensuring accountability. Execution bridges the gap between aspirations and outcomes, making it the ultimate competitive advantage. 👥 A Culture of Execution: Building a culture that prioritizes execution requires leaders to be deeply engaged with their teams and processes. It's about creating a mindset where every team member understands the value of their contribution towards the bigger picture. 🔑 Key Takeaway: Remember, the most brilliant strategy is only as good as its execution. It's time we shift our focus from just dreaming big to doing big. Let's make execution the heart of our business strategy and watch as our organizations transform and reach unprecedented heights. #BusinessStrategy #ExecutionMatters #Leadership #OrganizationalSuccess #GettingThingsDone