Market discipline starts at the top: the leadership team must define the mission (why do customers buy from us versus the competition), vision (what needs to be done to deliver the value proposition), and strategic intent of the organization. Only then can processes, infrastructure, and assets be aligned.
The year 2020 forever changed the way people think about work as the world learned how productivity
can be maintained and even enhanced when the workforce is remote. Remote work allows employers and
employees alike greater flexibility, from opening up the talent pool, to gaining more time in the week with the
absence of a commute. The popularity of remote work is here to stay, leading to an increase of managers
overseeing hybrid teams; a mix of people in an office and working remotely. As some employees return to
the office, the idea of managing a hybrid team can feel like a daunting task. The good news is that it doesn’t
have to be.
Are your activities and structure consistent with your strategy and positioning? Consider the questions below. If you answer “no” at least once, you would be well-served to scrutinize the major activities being performed by your employees and weigh them against your strategy. If employees were asked, would they say that they spend their daily efforts only on tasks that are critical? Is your strategy a clear guide to help employees prioritize their daily activities and priorities? Do all employees clearly see the connection between their work and customer value?Is individual decision-making systematically encouraged?
Execution excellence starts at the top. It is the leadership team’s responsibility to set the foundation of execution by formulating a clear market positioning, communicating it to all employees with credibility, deliberately and thoughtfully managing the changes required to maintain excellence in operations, and being self-aware enough to understand their own strengths and gaps to deliver against their strategic goals.
