Ideas to Action ASMC

Turning Ideas into ACTION

www.slideshare.net/johnspence

Why should I listen to you?

100+ a year since 1989

300+ in 19 years

90+ since 1994

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” Leonardo da Vinci

Ideas in Business = Strategy(Strong Strategy = Valued Differentiation)

Action = Execution

Business Success = Strategy x Execution

Growth Wave

Balanced & Predictable

Fire-fighting

Profit Wave

W

eak

STR

ATEG

Y

St

rong

Weak EXECUTION Strong

Six Disciplines Execution Revolution - Harpst

ValuedDifferentiation

Efficiency

Bankruptcy

StableProfitable

Growth

Strategy is merely the attempt to shape the

future of your business.

Assessing the Strategic SituationSimplicity Complexity

Certainty Uncertainty

Knowing Forecasting

Proactive Reactive / Adaptive

Strategic Planning

Scenario Planning

Success comes from executing the RIGHT plans, not just from the planning process itself.

Five Foundations of Effective Strategic Thinking

Business Acumen

Personal Experience

Pattern Recognition

Strategic Insight

Disciplined Execution

Just because you have an idea…

Is it realistic?What are the REAL numbers?What would I have to change / do?What is the “Ripple Effect”?Is this a long-term or short-term idea?Who else should I talk to?Can this idea be improved ?What is the timing for implementation?What will happen if I am wrong?

Take a Chance

Take A Pass

DelegateTake Your Time

HIGH

LOW

LOW HIGH

Probability

Impact

Greatest Challenges:1. Competitive pressure2. Growth and expansion3. Skill shortages4. Pricing sensitivity5. Changing technology

Develop ONE idea for your business from these topics

Is it realistic?What are the REAL numbers?What would I have to change / do?What is the “Ripple Effect”?Is this a long-term or short-term idea?Who else should I talk to?Can this idea be improved ?What is the timing for implementation?What will happen if I am wrong?

To create a highly accountable culture…

• Communicate clearly and relentlessly.• Set agreed-upon and highly specific metrics.• Focus on results – not personalities.• Force collaboration – teamwork is mandatory

not optional.• Question all activities that don’t contribute to

the company’s overall strategic goals.• Make sure that everyone in the organization –

from top to bottom – focuses on accountability.

• Solid strategy is essential to business success.

• However, good strategic principles mean nothing if you don’t implement them.

• Thorough preparation is essential to execution.

• Simplicity is the foundation of execution. Thus you should focus your business on a few simple ideas.

• Align all activity with your core business goals. Eliminate everything else.

• People drive execution. Hire, train, retain and motivate the best.

• The business landscape is always changing, so to succeed you must be flexible.

• Craft a simple message, and make sure everyone in the organization gets it – but also listen to everyone, so you know what’s going on.

• Being good isn’t enough. Build “towering strengths.”

Sun Tzu on Business Execution

Vision+

Values

Strategy

Commitment

Alignment

Systems Communication

Support

Adjust /Innovate

Reward /Punish

Where are we going + how will we behave on the way?

FocusDifferentiation“No”

Stakeholders + guiding collation

Vision + ValuesStrategyPlansGoals / ObjectivesTactics / Actions

Procedures / ProtocolsRepeatable ProcessClear / consistent / relentless

Training +time / money /

supplies / people

Measure / TrackCommunicate

Transparency Renewal

Praise + Celebration and

Eliminate Mediocrity

9 Steps forEnsuring

Effective Execution

Obstacles to Execution

1. There is a real void of clear, direct and understandable communication. This results in people doing what they want to do, not what they need to do and breeds a climate of not caring about the customers/clients or their colleagues.

Poor Communication

2. Dysfunctional behavior is accepted or ignored and worse yet, colleagues, management reward it.

Poor Behavior

3. There is no definition of what is acceptable and what is unacceptable.

Lack of Clarity

4. Management does not promote and confirm that accountability is a key principle within their company.

Lack of Accountability

5. Good people may leave because of frustration that their employer is ignoring the issue and is not proactive in seeking and implementing a solution to change the environment.

Loss of Talent

6. Employees will believe that if their managers do not show that accountability is important, then employees will know that they can get away with unacceptable behaviors.

Lack of Leadership

Accountability

• 100% Clarity

• Agreement

• Tracking

• Coaching

• Reward / Punishment

Clear Direction

No

Yes

Explain the Task

Agreement

Gain Agreement

Skills

Yes

No

Training

Resources

Yes

No

Get them theResources

Authority

Yes

No

Empower Them

Motivated

Yes

No

Coach Them

PerformanceImprovement

Yes

No

Clarity

The Four Pieces of Paper…

Agreement

Drone Scapegoat

OwnershipMentality

LooseCannon

HIGH

LOW

LOW HIGH

Auth

ority

Accountability

Empowerment

Keep a Compelling Scoreboard• It has to be simple• It has to be visible to the team• The has to show all key metrics

• It has to tell you immediately if you are winning or losing!!

Tracking

MPS Margin Per Sale

Talent

Customer Service

Customer Retention

Create a “Dashboard” of all key measures

Coaching

Situational Leadership

Cheerleader Coach

Director Teacher

FLEX

LOW

LOW

HIGH

HIGH

Moti

vatio

n

Skill

Final Workshop• What are the top THREE things you must do

right away to dramatically increase the level of disciplined execution and accountability in your organization?

If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to send a note or call. My email address is: john@johnspence.com

My twitter address is: @awesomelysimplePlease connect with me on LinkedIn

Also, you might find value in the ideas I share in my blog. You can sign up for it at:www.blog.johnspence.com

Lastly, these slides have already been uploaded to:

www.slideshare.net/johnspence

Thank You