Successfully deliver your strategy by working backwards from the goal to today’s work.
Some might say begin with the end in mind. When it comes to implementing strategy, though, this may get you part of the way there, but it is not enough. Since strategy lays out large blocks of work in sequence to accomplish strategic goals and outcomes, merely considering the end state as you begin the work is inadequate for delivering the work.
Human beings are accustomed to thinking about the world from a perspective of today forward and often in our minds that is depicted as moving from left to right. This is particularly true when we draw it on a piece of paper; English speakers write left to right which influences us to place today on the left side of the page and the future on the right. When thinking about how your team can most effectively accomplish their work, it is helpful to think in reverse, or right to left, following a pattern like this:
- What is the goal we are striving to achieve?
- When do we need to achieve the goal? (say two years out)
- What are the outcomes we need to achieve along the way to attain the goal?
- If two years, which outcomes must be completed a year and a half from now to have us on track? Then, which must be accomplished a year from now to have us on track? Six months from now?
- What must we start with now to ensure we can achieve those things in six months?
- For concerns and blockers, what must be true to remove them?
Using this approach, you can be clear about the work required in each six months increment to achieve the desired goal, guided by the future state and not dominated by the work of today shrouded in the problems of today.
Share your thoughts below.
What approach do you use to translate strategic goals to action today?
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