The Amp It Up Fieldbook

5Put Execution Ahead of Strategy

Strategy and execution are equally important in business, but most people don't think deeply enough about execution, which is a mistake. It doesn't matter how great your strategy is if you can't execute it. And solid execution alone isn't enough for an organization to innovate and succeed. Organizations that can develop an excellent strategy and execute it well gain a competitive advantage over those that have great ideas but cannot effectively implement them. Once you've developed the right strategy to grow your business, execution is critically important as you scale.

The following activities will help you determine a strategy that is worth pursuing. They will also help you, your team, and your organization figure out how to execute and overcome challenges along the way.

SET A CAREER PATH FOR EXECUTION EXCELLENCE

Having a clear path to management roles can help your people learn by doing. Each career level will prepare them to take on more responsibility. As they learn how to better execute, they will also think more strategically. Consider the Snowflake sales levels, which support salespeople as they gain experience and are promoted to more senior roles (see the accompanying figure).

Establish a path for your managers to learn execution through experience. It should progress three or four levels to prepare your executive team to make decisions, ...