The Nine Steps for Effective Execution By John Spence.

The nine steps for effective execution are:

1. Tie execution into the vision and values of the organization.
2. Focus the organization on a few key strategies to execute.
3. A guiding coalition of key leaders must demonstrate personal commitment to being living examples of disciplined execution.
4. It is essential that all of the major strategies and objectives of the organization be fully aligned.  When priorities are confusing or at odds, it leads to failure.
5. Create systems and processes to ensure repeatable success.
6. Once you have established a focused strategy and identified key priorities for execution, over-communicate the goals and priorities to be sure that the entire organization is aligned and focused on the most important things.
7. Be sure to give all of the training, support, resources and help necessary to allow people to be successful in executing the key objectives.
8. Expect the unexpected.  Adjust and innovate continuously in response to the marketplace and the customer to ensure the organization is still focused on executing to the appropriate objectives.
9. Shower people who are effective in execution with praise, rewards and recognition to demonstrate to the rest of the organization what behaviors are desired.  Deal quickly and decisively with any person in the organization that is unwilling or unable to execute the key strategies.

My challenge to you is this; look at any project in your organization that has stalled… any strategy that is NOT being fully implemented, and you are likely to find that you have not accomplished one or more of the nine steps for effective execution. This nine-step cycle is not complex… but it is difficult to build this model into the systems and culture of your company to ensure that EVERY major project, initiative, strategy, and objective is approached with a strong sense of urgency and a robust process for absolutely ensuring its successful execution.