Elevate Your Business Strategy. How To Cut Through The Operational Noise.

Many executives and senior teams become frustrated with not being able to focus and spend time on critical strategic initiatives, and instead get "bogged down" in the day-to-day operations of the organization. It is not uncommon that a year or two goes by without addressing this issue, and ultimately frustration impacts performance, team functioning, and board relations/accountability. Additionally, loosing a step in the market place by not elevating the business strategy can put the organization at risk and behind the eight-ball. Here are three actions you can take today: 

1.  Provide Strategic Plan vs Operational Plan Education:Provide education, on a regular basis, regarding the difference between an "operational plan" and a "strategic plan." Only by having the senior team and the board clearly understand the different characteristics of each can you implement effective management tools to drive strategic success. This type of education is also a must have for new leaders and board members during the organization's onboarding process. 

2.  Re-Design Your Agenda: "Let the paper do the work" is the adage I like to use. The first item on the senior team meeting agenda and the board agenda should be the "Strategic Plan Achievement Report," using a project accountability log. Also, the same applies to the agenda used for supervisor and supervisee (with a focus on individual responsibility milestones.) Create organizational alignment, consistency and accountability.   
 
3. Implement a Project Accountability Log: Using the right tool(s) for the job in question, is the best option. In this case, the job is for the board and senior team to clearly understand and drive the five process actions, which are generic for every strategic initiative (project plan): When is the project plan due? What is the approval decision after project plan review? When shall the project plan be deployed? When shall we conduct an effectiveness review after deployment? What operational leader/department shall be responsible for the ongoing initiative after effectiveness review (transition from strategy to operations.)  
  
By instituting these effective techniques and tools, leaders can elevate their approach, focus on strategy, and diminish the noise (and distraction) created by operational influences.